Paris police chief says student protests have become uncontrolled, calls for peace

Paris police chief Patrice Faure said on Oct 3 that the student protest movement that has spread across France is “out of control” and called on demonstrators to return to peaceful forms of action. In an open letter posted on the social‑media platform X ahead of planned renewed protests from Oct 6, Faure warned that authorities would respond firmly to any violence or vandalism.

The protests began on Sept 28 and have involved thousands of students, primarily high‑school pupils, who have staged blockades of schools and other actions to demand better classroom conditions and increased funding. Since the start of the movement, around 5,000 people have been arrested nationwide and dozens of participants have been injured.

Riot police clashed with high‑school students on Oct 2, and unions called for teachers to join a strike in support of the students’ demands. Police spokesperson Agathe Foucault told RTL radio that more than 600 police officers have also been injured during the unrest. Teachers and members of the public have been attacked, and damage to property is estimated in the tens of millions of euros.

In his letter, Faure said that those who launched the movement no longer control it and urged students to abandon school blockades and unrest in favour of peaceful protest. He also appealed to parents to steer their children away from what he described as the influence of “professional rioters” and their supporters.

The police chief’s warning comes as authorities prepare for further demonstrations scheduled for early October, emphasizing that any escalation of violence will be met with a firm response from law‑enforcement agencies.