French police fire tear gas to disperse protesters in Lyon

French police fired tear gas to disperse around 150 protesters gathered outside Lyon 3 University on Saturday, 24 October, Euronews reported. The Times of Israel and Euronews both report that new demonstrations are kicking off across the country. The gathering took place in an area where public demonstrations had been banned by authorities. [1][3]

Euronews reported that authorities are trying to prevent a repeat of recent destruction that included clashes, arson, and looting in several cities over the previous weekend. Security measures have been tightened in places where public gatherings are prohibited. [1]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, student protests began in late September 2026 over teacher shortages, dilapidated schools, and public service cuts. Demonstrations nationwide involved hundreds of thousands of people in major cities, with police previously using tear gas and water cannon against protesters in Paris, Marseille, Nantes, and Lyon. [7][9][10]

The wider unrest has led to disruptions elsewhere in the country. Vanguard News and Citizen Digital both reported that a French Ligue 1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon was postponed due to protests in Paris. [5][6]