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French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned violence surrounding protests in France. He said peaceful demonstrations have a place in the country, but arson, looting and violence do not.
11 sources
Student protests over education conditions disrupted hundreds of schools in France and were accompanied by clashes, vandalism and arrests. A 15-year-old in Lens lost a hand after an explosive police projectile detonated; reports differed on whether he picked it up or it was thrown into his hand. France suspended the use of stun grenades while the incident is investigated. A police officer is also being prosecuted over the reported close-range firing of a tear-gas grenade that injured another student. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 6,629 people had been arrested, while 761 police officers, 215 students and 89 school staff had been injured. Related student protests in Liège, Belgium, also led to vandalism, looting and confrontations with police. The authorities imposed a ban on gatherings of more than three people following the unrest, and the mayor said it would remain in force for at least another week and a half. Reports gave differing arrest figures, including 76 arrests during one day of protests and 107 over several days.
13 sources
Protests over overcrowded classes, teacher shortages and school conditions continued across France, drawing pupils, university students, teachers, parents and unions. Demonstrators blocked schools and held marches, while clashes with police were reported in several cities. On a renewed day of protest in Paris, a participating union put nationwide attendance at about 480,000, while authorities estimated about 160,000 participants, including about 41,000 in Paris. The government announced an emergency plan to deploy more than 3,000 substitute teachers to address shortages; a single report said they would be assigned to 514 of the most affected schools. Unions said the protests would continue. During protests the previous Thursday, authorities reported more than 500 arrests and over 70,000 participants; a single report gave the figures as 504 arrests, 71,500 demonstrators and 48 injured police officers.