Tens of thousands join French student protests as violence erupts in Paris

Tens of thousands of people joined student protests across France on Tuesday, with demonstrations taking place in cities including Paris, Lille, Marseille, and Place d'Italie. Student and school unions reported that around 480,000 people participated in the nationwide rallies, marking an increase from the previous week. As FTMQ News reported earlier, high school students have blocked hundreds of schools since late September over missing teachers and poor classroom conditions. [1][2][3][6][11][14][15]

Violence broke out in the French capital at the Place Vauban, located next to Les Invalides in the 7th arrondissement. Protesters threw bottles, fireworks, and stones at law enforcement officers. In response, police officers fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds, while fires were set in parts of Paris. [1][2]

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that 11 police officers were hospitalised in Paris following the clashes. He described Tuesday as a particularly gruelling day for local law enforcement, while reiterating his firm stance against the violence. [1]

Demonstrators across the country are demanding better learning conditions, maintaining that government measures announced so far fail to address their concerns. In Paris, pupils staged fresh school blockades using wheelie bins to press their demands. [3]