Attack on a Paris high school and student protests in France
A masked group attacked a high school in Paris and the fire brigade was fired upon with pyrotechnics. Protests by high school students are ongoing across the country.
Quick Look
- A masked group attacked a high school in Paris, smashing the doors and setting fire to the entrance, while fireworks were fired at firefighters.
- About 100 students were evacuated.
- Protests and school blockades also continue in other French cities.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Protests by high school students in France began in the second half of September amid demands for funding for institutions and improving learning conditions.
Attack on a Paris high school
A high school in Paris was attacked by a masked group that fled after the first attack but then returned. The perpetrators hit the entrance door, breaking the glass, and then set fire to the entrance. The flames were first extinguished by employees, before the arrival of firefighters. Later, the fire brigade was attacked using pyrotechnic mortars.
About 100 students were evacuated from the building. School principal Carole Zerbib explained that the perpetrators of the attacks were a group of a dozen or so young people dressed in black and masked. In her opinion, it was a very well-organized group and the attack was prepared.
Blockades occurred in Paris at universities: at the Academy of Fine Arts and at one of the faculties of the medical school.
Protests in many cities
At the same time, in cities outside Paris, Monday's protests in high schools before noon are assessed as calmer than last Friday.
In the Rhône department, whose main city is Lyon (France's third largest city), police reported "isolated" incidents at 12 high schools. In Rennes and Bordeaux, classes have resumed in several schools that were closed at the end of the week.
The Ministry of Education reported that various types of actions or disruptions took place in a total of 413 institutions in the morning. This is less than last week: on Friday morning there were over 500 such outlets, and on Thursday - over 600.
"This is not a movement of hooligans"
Former president of the French Court of Audit, Pierre Moscovici, who spoke on Franceinfo radio on Monday about the protests, argued that the high school students' demands were legitimate.
This is not a movement of hooligans, these are young people who notice poor teaching conditions, burdensome hours, classrooms that are destroyed and have no teachers, argued Moscovici. He also admitted that there were riots against the forces of public order, which was "unacceptable."
What are the students demanding?
Protests by high school students began in the second half of September with demonstrations in the Paris region. Students demand funding for their institutions, complaining about the poor condition of schools, too many students in classes, and teachers being overloaded.
This is especially true of schools in poorer districts, where inequality is visible compared to other schools. Protests became more serious in the past week as acts of violence and clashes with police broke out.
Open Questions
- Who was behind the organized attack on a high school in Paris?
- What steps will the authorities take to secure facilities?
