French Schools Targeted by Fires Amid Nationwide Student Protests

Fires have broken out at several high schools across France as a wave of student protests, initially focused on school funding and study conditions, has escalated with blockades and violent incidents. The demonstrations, which began last week, have spread to hundreds of schools nationwide.

Blazes were reported at two high schools in Nantes, western France, and another fire engulfed the entrance to a school in the northern city of Rouen. In Nantes, a fire at the Nelson Mandela high school damaged the entrance hall after a bin was set alight. In Marseille, staff at Victor Hugo high school were reportedly splashed with petrol. A headteacher at Degrugillier high school in Auchel was injured in the ear by a firework.

Students are protesting a lack of teachers and staff, overcrowded classrooms, and dilapidated buildings. University students joined the demonstrations on Thursday, voicing similar grievances.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened a crisis meeting on Thursday to address the unrest. The government subsequently described the student-led demonstrations as having descended into "urban violence." French media reported 625 arrests on Wednesday alone, with 83 police officers injured. By midday on Thursday, excluding Paris, more than 600 arrests had been made.

At least 30 universities have also reportedly been blockaded, including campuses in Rennes and Paris. In Marseille and Strasbourg, public transport services were halted due to vandalism and threats of violence, which authorities stated were aimed at hindering protester movement.

Raphael, a 17-year-old protester in Strasbourg, described inadequate school facilities, including leaky rooms and insufficient toilets. "The building is falling apart, the cafeteria is too small. There's zero budget, zero resources, not enough supervisors," he told AFP.

The protests have become politicized. The government and hard-right politicians have accused the hard left of orchestrating the unrest, which is being organized by a union representing high school students. Bally Bagayoko, a mayor from the radical left La France Insoumise (LFI) party, defended earlier remarks suggesting violence could be legitimate in certain situations. LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon advocated for non-violent protests while arguing that blaming the left would not resolve the underlying issues.

Marine Le Pen, leader of the hard-right National Rally, stated, "This is no longer about high school student protests. It is about riots organized by professionals and overseen by deputies from La France Insoumise." She called for a new anti-rioting law. Left-wing mayor of Marseille Benoît Payan condemned the "unacceptable violence" in his city, urging protesters to express their legitimate concerns calmly. Eric Ciotti, the Republicans mayor of Nice, suggested that parents of those damaging school property should be held financially responsible for repairs.