French school protests escalate as fires prompt crisis meeting

Student protests over teacher shortages, deteriorating school buildings and other conditions escalated into fires, blockades and clashes in France on Thursday, prompting a crisis meeting at the prime minister’s office. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 625 people, mostly young, had been detained and 83 police officers injured during Wednesday’s protests. The government said 159 students and teaching staff had been injured during the dayslong demonstrations. In Marseille, a fire truck responding to a blaze at Saint-Exupéry high school was set alight after a crowd surrounded it, police said. Attackers also doused the headteacher at Victor Hugo high school with petrol and injured the school leader, according to the prosecutor’s office. In Nantes, a fire broke out at Nelson Mandela high school. A local official said the fire was under control, occupants had been evacuated and no injuries were reported there. The demonstrations began the previous week and intensified this week. Students have cited teacher shortages, dilapidated facilities, overcrowded classes, timetables and classroom conditions among their grievances.