Nearly 200 students have been injured in protests across France as demonstrations continue and hundreds of schools stay closed, according to the Guardian's live coverage.
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Key facts
- Nearly 200 students have been injured in school protests in France.
- Hundreds of schools across France remain closed amid planned demonstrations.
- Clashes between students and police have continued.
- Spain's PM Pedro Sánchez separately called a snap election for 29 November.
- The events were reported in the Guardian's Europe live coverage on 5 October 2026.
Nearly 200 students have been injured as protests continue across France, with clashes between demonstrators and police ongoing, according to the Guardian’s Europe live coverage published on 5 October 2026.
Hundreds of schools across the country remain closed amid planned demonstrations, the Guardian reported. The protests have spread nationwide, though the live coverage did not specify the full scope of the movement or a detailed breakdown of where the injuries occurred.
The situation in France was one of several developments covered in the Guardian’s live blog, which tracked unfolding events across Europe on the day.
Elsewhere, the coverage reported that Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez called a snap election for 29 November. According to the Guardian, the move came just days after rightwing parties blocked his minority government’s emergency measures on housing amid widespread protests.
The Guardian reported that the Spanish election will take place on Sunday, 29 November, described as the earliest possible date procedurally. In what the outlet called a fierce address, Sánchez framed the vote as a choice between “regressing” under a “far-right coalition” or “keeping moving forward” with his progressive administration.
Sánchez said the election would be about who will guide Spain through a period of disruption amid high political tensions, global instability, the climate emergency, and uncertainty posed by the rise of AI, according to the Guardian. The conservative People’s Party welcomed the announcement, posting “At last” on X alongside an election video set to the EU anthem “Ode to Joy.”
Why it matters
The injuries to nearly 200 students and widespread school closures point to significant unrest in France that is disrupting education and raising questions about the handling of protests. Alongside Spain's snap election, the events underscore a period of heightened political tension across Europe.
Frequently asked questions
How many students were injured in the French school protests?
According to the Guardian's live coverage, nearly 200 students were injured as clashes with police continued.
Are French schools closed because of the protests?
Yes. The Guardian reported that hundreds of schools across France remain closed amid planned demonstrations across the country.
When is Spain's snap election taking place?
The Guardian reported that Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez called a snap election for Sunday, 29 November, described as the earliest possible date procedurally.
Timeline
- Nearly 200 students injured in French schools protests as clashes with police continue – as it happened
The Guardian World: Hundreds of schools in France remain closed amid planned demonstrations across the country The conservative People’s Party is very pleased with the announcement. “At last,” they say on their X, with a slick election video – set to the EU’s anthem “Ode to Joy” – to go along with i
- Nearly 200 students injured in French schools protests as clashes with police continue – Europe live
The Guardian World: Hundreds of schools in France remain closed amid planned demonstrations across the country The conservative People’s Party is very pleased with the announcement. “At last,” they say on their X, with a slick election video – set to the EU’s anthem “Ode to Joy” – to go along with i