Story perspectives

France suspends classes after 1,260 arrests in student riots

By Drooid · Oct 19, 2026, 6:01 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

French Students Block Schools

French high school students blockaded schools, closing about 400 on 2 October.
Students adopted the slogan “Bismillah, c’est les ténèbres” after an early-October Snapchat screenshot circulated.
Some students allege police officers operated the Snapchat accounts, though no proof exists.
The slogan appeared at a Paris-area protest on 13 October and on placards in Brussels, Bologna, Milan and Berlin.
Student protests merged with nationwide cost-of-living demonstrations on 17 October, triggering severe rioting and looting.

Summary

Lecornu Suspends Classes

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu ordered regular classes suspended on 8 and 9 October.
Police reported 1,260 arrests in the Paris area, 86 % of detainees were minors.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray announced a review of the Parcoursup admissions system, with measures due by end-October.
Geffray confirmed two-thirds of the promised 3,000 substitute teachers have been deployed to troubled schools.

Summary

UN Condemns Tactics

The United Nations condemned France’s crowd-control tactics during high-school student protests.
Police opened internal investigations into 36 alleged officer abuses, including four children reportedly mutilated by explosives.
Paris mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said repairing arson-damaged public buildings could cost tens of millions of euros.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned the protests occur weeks before the 2027 presidential election, heightening political stakes.

History

Historical Context

In May 1968, French students at Nanterre and the Sorbonne sparked protests that grew into a general strike involving roughly 10 million workers, forcing President Charles de Gaulle to dissolve parliament and call a June 23 election. The uprising reshaped French education and labor policy, creating a legacy that today’s October school blockades echo as students again demand systemic change.

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French Students Block Schools

French high school students blockaded schools, closing about 400 on 2 October.
Students adopted the slogan “Bismillah, c’est les ténèbres” after an early-October Snapchat screenshot circulated.
Some students allege police officers operated the Snapchat accounts, though no proof exists.
The slogan appeared at a Paris-area protest on 13 October and on placards in Brussels, Bologna, Milan and Berlin.
Student protests merged with nationwide cost-of-living demonstrations on 17 October, triggering severe rioting and looting.

1 / 4