Violence in French secondary schools: mortars, fires and escalating assaults
The initially peaceful secondary school movement has radicalised with mortar fire, fires and violence against school principals. 245 staff members have been injured since the start of the mobilisations.
Escalation of violence in educational institutions
According to Le Figaro, French secondary schools have been experiencing an increasing radicalisation of violence since the return from the autumn half-term holidays. Mortar fire, deliberate fires and direct assaults on school principals are multiplying in major cities from Lille to Marseille, including Paris, Lyon and Grenoble.
The Education Minister denounces an "unprecedented violence". The tally released by the ministry stands at 245 staff members injured since the start of the movement launched in late September. School principals, direct targets of this violence, are calling on the State to intervene to restore safety in educational establishments.
The initial secondary school movement has lost momentum. The mobilisation day on 10 November, relayed by the inter-union of education, higher education and youth organisations, recorded participation well below the initial demonstrations. In Paris, intelligence services counted between 2,000 and 4,000 protesters, compared with 56,000 people gathered at the beginning of the movement.
Although the number of blocked establishments has become "residual" according to the minister, the nature of the actions has changed. Daily incidents reported show a shift from peaceful blockades to more violent forms of protest, directly threatening the school institution and its staff.
Source: Le Figaro