High school students in France say they are tired of too few teachers, overcrowded classes, worn-out facilities, and a flawed university admissions system. They argue that these problems justify everything from school arson and attacks on school staff to riots in the streets. In Bordeaux, a firefighter approached a barricade to deal with burning objects. Suddenly, a spray can exploded and flames rose up around him.

The firefighter survived with burn injuries, but the incident illustrates how the protests, now ongoing for about two weeks, continue to escalate across France. The police are investigating the incident as arson, according to reports from Sud Ouest.

It began at the end of September, first at high schools outside Paris. Most of the students are between 15 and 18 years old. A student organization called for a nationwide blockade on the same day much of the public sector was on strike, and protests have continued since then.

In many of the video clips circulated on social media, masked students with immigrant backgrounds can be seen.

In Nantes, the entrance to a high school was destroyed in a fire, and students are now receiving remote instruction. In Marseille, firefighters were attacked at a high school, their vehicles looted and then set on fire. One firefighter was slightly injured. Similar fires and attacks have been reported in several other cities.

On social media, images and videos from Bordeaux are circulating where bystanders and protesters can be seen laughing as the firefighter who tried to remove the burning objects was caught in the flames.

Hundreds of schools were still closed or disrupted on Friday. At least 65 school employees have been injured, including about forty principals, and around 170 students. The interior minister says police have arrested more than 5,000 people since Monday and that over 300 police officers were injured in a single day.

The government claims that the left-wing party LFI and groups on the far left are fueling the violence. The party calls this conspiracy thinking, and accuses the police of using excessive force. The next major day of protest is set for Tuesday.

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