French authorities have opened an investigation into attempted murder after firebombs were thrown at police and gendarmes during protests in Paris and other cities on Saturday.
The public prosecutor said incendiary devices were hurled at about 15 security personnel, causing injuries including second-degree burns. No suspects had been arrested in connection with the attack as of the time of publication.
The violence came as France continued to face a third consecutive weekend of protests linked to the rising cost of living and deteriorating public services, according to media reports.
Officers Injured as Protest Violence Escalates
Images and video showed flames engulfing the leg of one security officer after a firebomb exploded nearby, underscoring the level of confrontation seen during some of the demonstrations.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the violence by some protesters was “exceptional,” referring to the severity of the incidents during the rallies.
The interior ministry said more than 770 people were arrested nationwide during the protests and weekend events.
What Sparked the Protests
The demonstrations began over anger at rising living costs and later broadened into wider demands over public services and education.
According to media reports, the protests have continued for three weeks, with students playing a central role alongside other demonstrators.
Key grievances included:
– Rising cost of living
– Declining public services
– Demands for better education conditions
– Concerns over social inequality
Student Action Resumes After Autumn Break
Separately, French students blocked several high schools on Monday after returning from the autumn break, seeking to revive the protest movement despite concessions announced by the government during the holiday period.
The move followed the turnout of hundreds of thousands of people, including students, across France on Saturday in the third consecutive protest weekend.
In Marseille, in southern France, demonstrators placed several trash bins in front of one high school entrance early Monday, in a symbolic attempt to disrupt classes.
“We resumed the action because we were given, so they say, some answers, but clearly that is not enough,” said 16-year-old Mariam, speaking to AFP while sitting on one of the bins.
Government Urges Students to Return to Class
Education Minister Edouard Geffray said only a limited number of France’s 3,700 high schools had been blocked, most of them in the Paris area, along with some in the north and south of the country.
He urged students to return to class to avoid failing exams, noting that “I have students who will sit the baccalaureate exam at the end of the year, and several hundred thousand of them have not attended classes for four or five weeks.”
President Emmanuel Macron also called for a calm return to school, saying the young people had been heard.
Economic Pressure Adds to Political Tension
The protests are unfolding as Europe’s second-largest economy edges toward recession, while the government faces pressure to contain public debt.
That leaves little room for fiscal concessions to appease protesters through higher spending, making the political and social situation more difficult to manage.
Conclusion:
As protests continue and tensions rise between demonstrators and authorities, France faces a delicate balance between social demands and security concerns. The combination of protest violence, student unrest, and economic strain suggests the crisis may persist in the days ahead.
