BBC reports police clashes and tear gas at French school protests

Thousands of student protesters gathered at Place de la République in Lille, northern France, on Tuesday, the BBC reported. Demonstrations were continuing across France against what protesters describe as under-investment in high schools. [1]

BBC Europe correspondent Nick Beake reported a strong police presence near the Lille crowd but saw no signs of trouble where he was reporting at that point. The BBC said protesters and authorities had clashed at some demonstrations elsewhere in France over the previous week. [1]

The BBC also linked to a separate video described as showing a bin on fire at school protests in Lille. The page does not establish when it was filmed or how it relates to Beake’s observation. [1]

Update

The BBC reports that police used tear gas in Paris and Marseille and water cannon in Rennes during the French school protests. It also reports clashes between police and demonstrators in Lyon. [2]

Despite those confrontations, the BBC says there was little of the serious trouble seen at previous protests. Its report does not specify when the incidents in each city took place. [2]