France school violence wave leaves thousands detained

Student protests in France over education funding have escalated into violence, with around 2,400 people detained and millions in damages, prompting government curfews. The unrest began on September 17 at a Paris school and spread to over 1,000 institutions. Arson attacks destroyed 24 schools, and about 3,000 businesses were looted, including 50 Carrefour stores. President Macron blamed radical leftists and criminals, while nationalist right-wing critics cited security failures. Police imposed nighttime curfews in Paris commercial areas. The immigration debate intensified because initial clashes occurred in suburbs with high immigrant populations, like Seine-Saint-Denis. Right-wing politicians linked the violence to border control failures, proposing stricter measures, though opinions remain divided on whether the root cause is social or migratory.