Rioters in France escalated a growing wave of student demonstrations Thursday, with school staff attacked, fires reported at educational facilities and a headteacher in Marseille reportedly doused with gasoline as protests over deteriorating school conditions spread across the country.

The demonstrations began with complaints about overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and deteriorating school buildings. However, some protests have turned violent, creating a growing challenge for French authorities and disrupting classes at hundreds of educational institutions.

Victor Hugo High School Incident

One of the most serious incidents occurred at Victor Hugo High School in Marseille, where the school's headteacher was attacked, according to the prosecutor's office. The supplied report says the headteacher suffered injuries, although officials did not immediately provide additional details.

More recent reporting from AFP, AP and Reuters also described an incident at Victor Hugo in which school staff were splashed with petrol as a student attempted to throw fuel toward a burning rubbish bin. Earlier reports from local authorities described staff members as having been attacked and doused with gasoline.

The incident highlighted how quickly demonstrations centered on education policy have moved beyond blockades and marches in some locations.

Fires and Attacks Spread to Other Schools

Marseille's Saint-Exupery High School was also the scene of serious disorder. Police said hundreds of young people surrounded a fire truck that had arrived to extinguish a blaze. The attackers reportedly forced firefighters away from the vehicle before setting the truck on fire.

In Nantes, firefighters responded to another blaze at a high school. Authorities said people inside the building were evacuated, while students scheduled to attend were turned away.

The unrest has also affected transportation and schools in other French cities. In Strasbourg, authorities halted trams in an effort to restrict the movement of demonstrators, while protesters burned barriers placed on tram tracks.

Hundreds Detained as Officials Seek to Restore Classes

Police have detained hundreds of protesters, many of them teenagers. By Thursday morning, authorities reported approximately 340 demonstrations outside high schools and more than 160 schools shut down. University students also joined the movement, with access blocked at roughly 30 campuses, according to a student union cited in reporting.

The French government has acknowledged that students have legitimate concerns about conditions in schools while condemning acts of violence.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said authorities believed some individuals were moving from school to school to encourage disorder. Education Minister Edouard Geffray said schools should consider remote classes when protesters prevent students and teachers from safely entering their buildings.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu also convened a crisis meeting as the protests intensified.

Police Conduct Also Under Investigation

The confrontations have produced allegations of excessive police force as well as violence against school personnel and emergency workers. Nunez said internal investigations had been opened into allegations involving three students.

The situation therefore involves competing concerns: students demanding better educational resources and working conditions, authorities attempting to keep schools operating, and investigations into alleged misconduct during clashes.

The protests have also become part of a wider political dispute in France, although the immediate demonstrations remain focused largely on education, staffing and school facilities.

Related Links 

Readers can follow additional reporting on the French student protests through the New York Post report on students clashing with police and current international coverage from Al Jazeera's report on school protests in France.

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