Violence broke out in several schools in Marseille amid protests by students demanding improvements in education infrastructure and resources. The unrest began as largely peaceful demonstrations but quickly escalated, resulting in injuries and arrests.

According to the local prosecutor’s office, the headteacher at Victor Hugo high school was injured during an attack linked to the unrest. At Saint-Exupery high school, also in Marseille, hundreds of protesters confronted firefighters responding to a blaze in the school building. The crowd forced emergency personnel to abandon a fire truck before setting it on fire.

Authorities have arrested more than 600 individuals in connection with the disturbances, which have spread rapidly across the city. The protests initially focused on highlighting staff shortages, poor building conditions, and inadequate learning environments in Marseille’s schools.

The unrest comes at a politically sensitive moment, as the French government recently announced a series of unpopular spending cuts in its 2027 budget. The timing has heightened tensions among students, educators, and local communities who argue that reductions in public expenditure will further strain the education system.

The demonstrations have drawn national attention to the challenges facing schools in Marseille and other parts of France, where calls for better funding and facility upgrades have intensified. Authorities have deployed additional security measures to contain the violence and restore order, while government officials have yet to respond publicly to the escalating situation.