France’s Student Uprising: 164 Arrests and the PM’s Warning

Mon Sep 28 2026 22:52:23 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

After 164 arrests over school blockades, France’s PM warns against violence as student protests swell.

In France, a wave of school blockades sparked 164 arrests, prompting Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to call the protests ‘irresponsible’ if they intensify. The demonstrations, sparked by overcrowded classes and teacher shortages, have spread from Paris to the south and north of the country. While students claim their actions defend their rights, the government blames violent stunts – fireworks and projectiles – and some accuse left‑wing parties of inciting the unrest. The interior ministry reported dozens of injuries to students, police and staff, and investigations are underway into an alleged grenade‑launcher incident. As nationwide protests threaten continuity, the federal government urges calm while pledging to address the underlying education crisis.

France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu once again warned that any escalation of the current wave of student protests would be irresponsible after authorities arrested 164 people early Monday.

The mass demonstrations, which began in Paris last week, saw teenagers block their schools for days, citing overcrowded classes and a severe shortage of teachers. Students chalk the unrest up to conditions left by a decade of austerity as the education system struggles to keep up with demand.

Lecornu criticised the violence seen at several blockades, calling fireworks, fires and assaults on police “unacceptable.” He added that protecting students, staff and officers must take precedence over any protest agenda.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said that Monday’s clashes left 12 security personnel, 12 students and three staff members injured, and that 180 schools were affected. He provided no details on the 164 individuals who were arrested.

Student unions, on the other hand, defended the blockades as a “legitimate response” to poor school conditions and campaign for better resources. The Union Syndicale Lycéenne urged further action, framing the protest as a stand against budget cuts and inadequate educational support.

Remote incidents of vandalism, projectiles and fireworks were reported across France—from Marseille on the Mediterranean coast to Lille in the north, and Sedan in the Ardennes. In a recent incident, police used a grenade‑launcher for crowd control, reportedly injuring a high‑school student, an act that is under investigation.

As violence flares and counter‑demonstrations by teachers and civil servants loom, the French government faces pressure to both maintain order and address the educational problems that fuel the protests. The situation remains tense, with the potential for a significant escalation if not resolved swiftly.