France Deploys Brav-M Police as Student Protests Turn Violent

Violent student protests have erupted across France over teacher shortages and deteriorating school buildings, leading to over 2,000 arrests, with more than 90 percent of detainees under 18. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has condemned the unrest as "rare violence" and deployed the controversial Brav-M riot police unit. Protesters have set cars and schools ablaze, clashed with police, and attacked firefighters in Marseille, burning their vehicle. In Strasbourg, demonstrators threw furniture at officers, who responded with tear gas. Approximately 400 schools remained closed Friday to calm the situation, while authorities urged parents to keep children home. Students demand concrete government action, citing collapsing ceilings, rat infestations, and overcrowded schedules. Seventeen-year-old Marius Mesnil warned of renewed mobilization if demands remain unmet, stating, "We won't settle for crumbs. We want concrete results now."