Mayor teargassed during Paris school protest as police suspend stun grenades

Mayor Bally Bagayoko of Saint-Denis was teargassed by police while marching with high-school students in Paris on Tuesday.

What Happened

Police confronted the march with a cordon and used a tear‑gas canister, forcing officials to evacuate the mayor. The incident sparked criticism from the mayor, who told the Guardian that a small minority of trouble‑makers do not justify the disproportionate force used by authorities. The same day, the French interior ministry announced a suspension of stun grenades at school protests, rejecting accusations of police brutality.

Reaction

Students across France have been protesting for more than a week over chronic under‑funding and lack of resources in public schools. Authorities have arrested over 5,000 demonstrators, most of them underaged, highlighting the scale of the unrest. The mayor’s comments echoed concerns from many pupils that heavy police tactics risk silencing legitimate demands.

Context

School protests have grown nationwide as budgets tighten, and the police decision on stun grenades reflects mounting pressure to curb perceived excesses in crowd control. The episode underscores the friction between youth activists demanding better education and a security approach that many view as overly aggressive.