Clashes erupt in Paris as student protests spread across France

School pupils demanding better education funding clashed with riot police in Paris on Tuesday at the end of a demonstration at Place de la Nation. Euronews reported that police fired tear gas as demonstrators threw objects and fireworks, while BBC News reported that officers also used tear gas against protesters in Marseille and deployed water cannon in Rennes. [1][2][3]

Demonstrators marched from Place de la République in Paris to protest against staff shortages, deteriorating buildings, and a lack of basic resources. Euronews reported that official figures put nationwide attendance at more than 250,000 people, including 56,000 in Paris. BBC News added that the wave of protests spread from high school pupils to parents, university students, and trade unions. [1][2][3]

The student movement began on 21 September 2026 in the Créteil academy and expanded across France over missing teachers, overcrowded classes, long timetables, and run down facilities. As FTMQ News reported earlier, police previously used tear gas and water cannon during mass demonstrations on Tuesday, while the Interior Ministry recorded 1,949 arrests related to student protests on 1 October 2026. [8][10][11]