Paris police chief warns of escalation as protests turn violent across schools

Following days of violent clashes involving left-extremist and Islamist groups, Paris police prefect Patrice Faure warned that the situation could worsen, noting that many universities have been partially or fully blocked since September 18. He stressed that law-enforcement agencies, under the interior minister's authority, are tasked with safeguarding demonstrations, not advancing the objectives of what he called "professionals of unrest."

Faure expressed full support for police, gendarmes and firefighters who have been deliberately targeted, commending their calm under rare conditions of violence. The unrest, originally sparked by complaints about overcrowded classrooms and unsanitary facilities, now affects 735 schools and has injured at least 305 officers, while property damage in the Paris region exceeds seven million euros. Incidents include arson, attacks on emergency vehicles, and a severe assault on a plain-clothed officer near Lycée Gustave-Courbet, who required hospital treatment and is under investigation for attempted homicide.