French student protests escalate into nationwide riots with 6,600 arrests

France is experiencing nationwide protests and riots stemming from student demonstrations over school resource shortages, with hundreds arrested and buildings set on fire. The unrest began in September at a high school in Créteil and spread across the country. On October 17, protests peaked with 140 demonstrations and 32,000 participants, leading to 400 arrests as police used tear gas in Paris and other cities. Protesters demand better education funding, lower living costs, and improved social welfare, while authorities blame far-left agitators for the violence. Nationwide arrests have reached 6,600, with reports of injured minors including a 15-year-old whose hand was severed by a stun grenade. The crisis has become a political issue ahead of the presidential election, with protests also spreading to Belgium and Italy.