Protests Over Education Reforms Turn Violent Across France, Resulting in Historic City Hall Fire, 1,200 Arrests, and 150 Injured Police Officers
PARIS : Protests against what many French people consider a government failure in education have quickly spread to several French cities, as heavily armed police officers engage angry demonstrators in intense rioting in Paris.
Protestors set fire to government buildings and commercial centres and smashed windows and looted, international media reports said. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowds and baton charges to disperse the crowd. The massive fire raged through the historic city hall in the city of Limoges, completely destroying a 140 year old clock tower. About 550,000 took part in nationwide demonstrations, in which 1,200 people were arrested and 150 police officers injured during the disturbances, authorities said.
The French protests and the response of the government July 2005.
One of the worst structural losses during the civil unrest was the burning of the city hall in Limoges and its 140-year-old clock tower.
Mass Arrests and Casualties: A total of 1200 participants were arrested in different cities and 150 security forces were injured and treated by the emergency services.
Government Condemnation: The French President was “severely displeased” by the violent acts, and the Prime Minister strongly declared that “a political agenda can never be imposed or tolerated by force.