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Violence broke out in Paris on Tuesday as tens of thousands of people joined school protests across France.
Demonstrations, which began in September as high school students protested against teacher shortages, poor facilities, and overcrowded classrooms, have gathered pace over the last week, with the French Interior Ministry reporting that around 161,500 people joined rallies on Tuesday.
Union groups put the figure considerably higher, at around 480,000.
Journalists with the AFP news agency reported seeing cars set alight and police firing tear gas in the French capital as people attempted to block roads with makeshift barricades.
Video footage posted to social media also appeared to show clashes with riot police around the Place Vauban, next to Les Invalides in the city’s 7th arrondissement. One clip shows officers firing tear gas as well as using a water cannon whilst people hurl objects towards them. Another shows what seems to be fireworks being aimed at police.
Most other protests in France on Tuesday are said to have been peaceful.
Rights groups have accused police of using excessive force whilst responding to the protests following a number of injuries to students.
Anne Savinel-Barras, the president of Amnesty International France, has called for authorities to ensure young people attending the demonstrations are kept as safe as possible.
“Authorities must ensure their safety and security and protect and facilitate the exercise of their right to demonstrate peacefully,” she said. “Any policing response must be lawful, necessary and proportionate, and authorities must avoid unnecessary and excessive use of force.”
Greta Thunberg joins Paris protests
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg also made an appearance at a protest in Saint-Denis, in the northern suburbs of Paris, on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters outside a high school, Thunberg said: “Young people are not being included in the conversation. Our future is being robbed away from us.”
“As we’ve seen here, schools are not getting investment that they need,” she continued. “It just gives the signal to young people that you are not prioritised in our society.”
Additional sources • AFP