Many Schools Closed as Violent Student Protests Rock France

Violent protests are sweeping through parts of France as students take the streets to show their anger over the French education system.

The demonstrations started earlier this week in Paris before spreading across the country. Students say they are protesting over a lack of teachers, overcrowded classrooms, unsafe environments, and run-down buildings.

Much of the protest has been violent. Videos shared on social media showed young residents setting vehicles and bins on fire in multiple locations.

Another video showed a group of masked people, some of whom weree dressed all in black, attacking a fire engine outside Lycee Saint-Expury, a school in France’s second largest city.

In some cases, residents were attacked. A video showed a hooded individual spraying what appears to be a makeshift aerosol flamethrower at a woman’s face, before walking away.

The French education ministry said the protests happened at more than 560 schools on Friday.

Earlier, the ministry said 400 of the country’s 3,700 high schools were expected to be closed.

Gerald Darmanin, justice minister, said about 2,000 people have been arrested since the protests began.

“We’re not entirely sure that they are even high school students themselves,” Darmanin said.

The minister added that two-thirds of the 2,000 people arrested since protests began have been placed in police custody.