5,000 arrested in France's 'student revolt': lynching of police, flamethrower on a woman, firefighter goes up in flames

France is under tense calm after days of violent riots that began with student protests over the state of the education system. At least 5,000 have been arrested since Monday, hundreds wounded, including police, teachers, and students. Hard footage from the riots includes a lynching of a police officer, a female officer attacked with kicks, and a woman set on fire with a flammable spray. The government accuses the far-left of fueling the violence.

France is under tense calm after days of violent riots that began with student protests over the poor state of the education system. At least 5,000 people have been arrested since Monday, hundreds wounded – including more than 300 police officers, 65 teaching staff, and 170 students. Hard footage circulated on social media shows a mass lynching of a police officer in the city of Belfort, a female officer attacked with kicks in the suburbs of Paris, and a woman attacked with a flammable spray that was ignited on her face at a bus station in Marseille. The government, led by President Emmanuel Macron, accuses the far-left party "France Unbowed" of fueling the violence. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said social media has greatly contributed to the spread of the protest. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin called on parents to take responsibility and demanded that prosecutors pursue the civil liability of parents for damages caused by their children. Widespread damage has been reported across the country, amounting to tens of millions of euros. The protests have become a focal point of political tension in France ahead of next year's presidential elections, in which far-right leader Marine Le Pen is expected to win.