Paris and Marseille Trade Tear Gas as French School Protests Surge

Wed Oct 07 2026 22:09:27 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Tear gas deployed in Paris and Marseille as thousands of students protest overcrowding and lack of resources across France.

Hundreds of thousands of students, parents and university students have taken to streets nationwide, demanding better resources and less police suppression. In Paris and Marseille riot police fired tear gas, while water cannon were used in Rennes, leaving dozens injured. Prime Minister Lecornu condemned the clashes and signaled a national dialogue on improving school conditions. The protests, sparked by overcrowded classrooms, continue to spread, with further demonstrations planned ahead of the presidential election.

Paris and Marseille Trade Tear Gas as French School Protests Surge

Hundreds of thousands of students, parents and university students have taken to streets nationwide, demanding better resources and less police repression.

In Paris and Marseille riot police fired tear gas, while water cannon roared in Rennes. The incidents, far shorter than the violence of earlier protests, left dozens of students injured.

Prime Minister Lecornu condemned the clashes – noting 215 students and 85 staff were hurt, along with 715 officers – and announced a national discussion on reforming school conditions.

The protests, sparked by overcrowded classrooms and dilapidated buildings in Seine-Saint-Denis, continue to spread to universities. Union leaders say further demonstrations are planned, keeping the nation tense ahead of the presidential election.