Paris: Protests involving high school students escalated into violence in Paris on Tuesday after thousands of demonstrators gathered in the capital, police said.
The demonstrations began early in the morning, with students blocking access to several schools around Paris. Police were able to contain the initial protests as the numbers remained relatively small.
The situation changed after protesters gathered at Place de la République and marched towards Place de la Nation. Thousands of students joined the demonstration, with clashes breaking out as the protest grew.
Police chief officials reported 32 arrests and 14 injuries during the demonstration. Images from the scene showed police officers charging towards protesters as tensions rose.
Europe correspondent Alistair Bunkall said the violence began to emerge after the larger crowd assembled in central Paris.
Student leaders have said the movement will continue to grow unless the government listens to their demands. Marius Mesnil, co-secretary general of the Union Syndicale Lycéenne, one of the main student unions involved in the protests, warned that the high school student movement would “intensify” if their concerns were not addressed.
Protesters argue that the French government should support their demands for improved conditions rather than confront them on the streets.
