France: nationwide strikes and marches; clashes in Lyon, school fire near Toulouse
French unions staged a nationwide day of strikes and protests on Thursday, 5 November, over wages, the cost of living and education. The CGT union said more than 250,000 people were demonstrating in 73 cities by the afternoon. In Lyon, the préfecture counted 30,500 marchers and organisers 55,000; police used tear gas against several hundred black-clad protesters. Near Toulouse, a high school in Tournefeuille was deliberately set on fire; pupils were evacuated and no one was hurt.
Trade unions called a nationwide day of strikes and marches across France on Thursday, 5 November, demanding higher wages, tax reform and better conditions in schools, after weeks of unrest that began with student protests and flared on 17 October. By the afternoon the CGT union said more than 250,000 people were taking part in demonstrations in 73 cities; as many as 80,000 were expected in Paris from 2 p.m. local time. The Eiffel Tower was closed for the day because of the strike.
In Lyon, the Rhône préfecture counted 30,500 marchers and the intersyndicale 55,000. Authorities had banned protests in much of the city centre and imposed an alternative route. Police said around 500 black-clad demonstrators threw projectiles and fireworks near Pont Gallieni; riot officers used tear gas, a car was set on fire and Euronews reported six arrests. France's Interior Ministry said the violence had been contained.
The Education Ministry said about 16% of teachers were on strike nationwide and reported blockades at 81 of France's roughly 3,700 high schools; a student association put the number of schools with classes suspended far higher. In Tournefeuille, near Toulouse, masked individuals entered the Marie-Louise Dissard Françoise high school with fireworks mortars and set the school-life office on fire. Pupils were evacuated without injury; the Education Minister condemned a "criminal" deliberate fire and said the perpetrators would face justice.
AFP, Reuters, France 3, BFMTV, franceinfo and Euronews covered the day. Today News Brief will update figures for Paris and any further Interior Ministry tallies when they are published.