Police clashed with a crowd of protesting students in Paris on Thursday (October 8) as the French school blockades persisted after prime minister's unspecified promises.

Riot police confronted protesters and an officer was seen using a liquid spray as teenagers blocked a street in the 20th arrondissement after the government promised to address their grievances about teacher shortages and dilapidated school buildings but gave no specific details.

The protest movement, now into its third week, has exposed deep tensions in France between popular demands for investments in deteriorating public services and a cash-strapped government under pressure from bond markets to reduce its debt and deficit.

It has also led to hundreds of arrests, dozens of injuries and a heated debate about the use of force by riot police against teenagers. On Wednesday (October 7), the government suspended the use of stun grenades in the policing of the protests.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

PARIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 8 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

2. (00:00:05:00) PROTESTERS GATHERING BEHIND BARRICADE MADE OF BINS, TWO PROTESTERS STANDING ON TOP OF BUS STOP

3. (00:00:11:00) PROTESTING STUDENTS STANDING ON BINS, SOME PLAYING BRASS INSTRUMENTS

4. (00:00:16:03) BARRICADE MADE OF BINS, SIGN ON TOP

5. (00:00:22:10) POLICE VANS ON STREET

6. (00:00:25:18) POLICE OFFICERS IN RIOT GEAR GATHERING ON STREET

7. (00:00:32:11) POLICE MARCHING TOWARDS PROTESTING CROWD

8. (00:00:36:13) POLICE MARCHING TOWARDS PROTESTING CROWD

9. (00:00:43:02) POLICE OFFICERS IN RIOT GEAR MOVING BINS

10. (00:00:52:19) POLICE OFFICERS STANDING IN FRONT OF CHANTING CROWD

11. (00:00:59:17) RIOT POLICE PUSHING BACK PROTESTERS, POLICE OFFICER SPRAYING LIQUID AT PROTESTERS

12. (00:01:19:12) RIOT POLICE CONFRONTING CROWD ON STREET, PEOPLE FILMING

13. (00:01:27:19) BARRICADE OF OVERTURNED BINS ON STREET, RIOT POLICE STANDING IN BACKGROUND

14. (00:01:32:23) PROTESTERS CONFRONTING POLICE, POLICE PUSHING THEM BACK

15. (00:01:54:18) RIOT POLICE PUSHING BACK PROTESTERS

16. (00:02:03:08) PROTESTERS SCUFFLING WITH RIOT POLICE

17. (00:02:16:23) RIOT POLICE FACING PROTESTING CROWD / POLICE MOVING BACK