French officials report that violent riots across the country are escalating, with nearly 500 arrests made in a single day. Education Minister Édouard Geffray stated that at least 24 schools were ransacked or set on fire during the unrest.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed over 5,000 people have been arrested nationwide, with 87% of those detained being minors. Only about one-third of the arrestees are now under legal proceedings.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot criticized external interpretations of the riots, stating: “If we do not write our own story, others will write it for us.” He accused France’s “rivals, adversaries, and partners” of attempting to frame the violence in a self-serving manner.
Organizers claim as many as 450,000 individuals are participating in the protests, which they say are aimed at opposing France’s educational system. On Tuesday alone, authorities reported arresting 488 people and sustaining injuries to 43 law enforcement officers.
In one incident, a 15-year-old boy suffered severe injuries when a police stun grenade detonated, reportedly blowing off his hand. Other participants described eye injuries and dental damage.
U.S. President Donald Trump recently linked the unrest to Islam and mass migration, stating: “What’s happening in France is nothing less than out of control mass migration. This isn’t about schools, this is about Islam wanting to take over a once great Country!”
The unrest has also been linked by some analysts to recent European Union immigration policies implemented in June, which included increased deportations and the construction of international detention centers. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz stated that open borders and unchecked migration contribute to societal frustration: “When you have open borders… coupled with policies that deny people basic energy, that overspend on all kinds of other government programs, you see a level of frustration boiling to the surface.”
Over 900 high schools were expected to be blocked or closed on Tuesday as tensions reached a peak.
The French are known for labor strikes and demonstrations, but this incident marks a shift toward violent unrest. Theo Wold, a former Trump official, noted: “What’s new is the violence, lawlessness, and rioting.”
