French PM Rejects Brutality Claims After 6,500 Arrests in Student Protests
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 7
French PM Rejects Brutality Claims After 6,500 Arrests in Student Protests
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 7
Summary
Two severe teen injuries sharpened pressure on Paris: a 15-year-old lost a hand after a police grenade exploded, and a 16-year-old lost sight in one eye after a projectile strike.
Sébastien Lecornu told parliament the response was triggered by urban violence, arson and vandalism, rejecting "police brutality" claims while acknowledging that "accidents" can happen.
6,000-plus people were taken into custody and 266,000 demonstrated nationwide Tuesday, including 56,000 in Paris, where the main march was largely peaceful before smaller clashes with riot police.
215 students, 85 school staff and 715 police officers have been injured since the protests began, as Macron convened an emergency ministerial meeting and the Socialist bloc moved to restrict sub-lethal riot-control weapons.
The protests, which began in mid-September over school funding and learning conditions, have become a broader political test ahead of next year’s presidential election.