Violence swept through the French capital, Paris, on Tuesday during protests against conditions in the education system, as tens of thousands of people took to the streets in cities across France.
The demonstrations began in September, when secondary school students protested a shortage of teachers, poor conditions in school buildings and overcrowded classrooms. Over the past week, the protests have intensified, triggering widespread mobilisation across the country.
According to France’s Interior Ministry, approximately 161,500 people took part in Tuesday’s demonstrations. Trade unions reported a significantly higher figure, claiming that around 480,000 protesters had participated.
The most tense scenes unfolded in Paris, where Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalists reported vehicles being set on fire, police using tear gas and protesters erecting makeshift barricades to block roads.
Footage from the scene also showed police deploying water cannons, while some protesters threw objects at officers.
However, most demonstrations held in other French cities were reported to have passed peacefully.
