A headteacher at Marseille’s Victor Hugo high school was doused with petrol and injured during a violent protest, officials said. The attack occurred amid a wave of demonstrations across France, in which thousands of students have rallied against staff shortages, dilapidated school buildings and a perceived lack of resources. The protests, which began largely peacefully, have escalated into clashes that have seen school premises set ablaze and vehicles targeted.
Outside Saint‑Exupéry high school in the same city, hundreds of students surrounded a fire truck that had arrived to extinguish a blaze, forcing firefighters to flee the vehicle before it was set on fire. Similar incidents were reported at schools in Liège, Nantes, Étampes and the Aude department, where fires were lit in rubbish bins and projectiles, including fireworks, were thrown. More than 600 people have been arrested for offences ranging from possession of explosive devices to attempted arson and incitement to rebellion.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened a crisis meeting on Thursday afternoon as Paris seeks to prevent the violence from spreading. Education Minister Édouard Geffray announced he would meet with union representatives on Friday to translate the protests into concrete progress for students, staff and schools. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez condemned the fire‑truck attack, calling it “unacceptable” and urged that the difficulties in schools be acknowledged and addressed.
Student unions have urged young people to continue nationwide demonstrations, citing that more than 350 schools have been affected. The unrest has become a political flashpoint amid the government’s recent 2027 budget cuts, with the government acknowledging the need to address the challenges facing high schools while condemning the violence. The protests have highlighted the tension between students demanding better learning conditions and authorities striving to maintain order.
