French police

Since mid-September, a student-led revolt against the French education system has snowballed into a major national protest movement, drawing explosive allegations of police brutality against minors. Lawyers, rights groups, and families have presented verified accounts of teenagers suffering shattered jaws, blindness, and severe head wounds from batons, tear gas, and rubber bullets. Over half a million people took to the streets this weekend, with about 100,000 in Paris alone. The government has defended the police, citing the hundreds of officers injured and vowing a firm response to violence.

French police used a 4x4 vehicle paid for by British taxpayers to charge at student protesters in Dunkirk, the French government has confirmed, prompting an investigation into the misuse of UK funds intended to prevent asylum seekers crossing the Channel.

French police fired teargas and water cannons on Saturday as hundreds of thousands of demonstrators joined nationwide protests against rising living costs and high school students' grievances, with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez's office reporting a growing number of violent incidents including assaults on officers, looting and damage to public buildings. At least 272 people were arrested across the country.