Youth Riots in France: Costs and Consequences
The recent riots involving youth across France have already incurred costs of at least 30 million euros, with thousands arrested, according to the government’s report released on Friday.
As per the Ministry of Justice, approximately 6,877 individuals have been detained since the youth demonstrations began last month. A staggering 86 percent of those arrested are minors, under 18 years old.
Currently, 2,376 people face charges; about 65 percent have been brought before a judge. Reports suggest that authorities have placed 21 individuals in custody, comprising 15 adults and 6 minors.
The Élysée Palace estimates that these riots, which began mid-September, have cost the country around 30 million euros (around $33 million). While the protests were purportedly about inadequate educational investment, significant damage has been inflicted on numerous school facilities throughout the month.
Just as an example, a school near Bordeaux was reported to have been ransacked during a protest. Local prosecutors indicated that around 30 to 40 individuals broke into the school, vandalized and stole several computers valued at about 3,000 euros each, and even set fires in the building. Overall, the damages are anticipated to be between 100,000 to 200,000 euros.
Édouard Geffray, the Minister of National Education, mentioned on Friday that over 100 school staff members have sustained injuries throughout the riots.
Moreover, police forces are also facing significant challenges due to the youth unrest. The Paris prosecutor’s office announced that a 15-year-old boy is scheduled to appear in juvenile court for allegedly attacking a female police officer during a widely circulated incident, where shouts of violence were heard.
According to the Ministry of Interior, there has been a recorded surge in public street violence, with over 20,000 violent incidents noted in September alone—an average of about 700 incidents each day—likely linked to the ongoing youth demonstrations.
Although the protests seem to be escalating, with similar demonstrations reported in Belgium and Italy, the government is hopeful that the turmoil will soon subside.
But a student from Paris 8 University, commenting on the situation, expressed a determined outlook, saying, “We’re here, we’re demonstrating, and we won’t stop. Until October, November, December if necessary. Nothing will stop us.”
In Paris, police have pointed fingers at the far-left, particularly the radical La France Insoumise (LFI) party, led by presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon, for allegedly organizing and amplifying the protests nationally.
The LFI Mayor of Saint-Denis, Bally Bagayoko, was specifically mentioned by police as having incited the riots by advocating for a possible use of violence against law enforcement. He has argued that the police’s reaction to the riots is rooted in racism.
On the other hand, some critics, including U.S. President Trump, have attributed the unrest to mass migration, claiming it stems from the influx of millions of Muslims. He stated, “This isn’t about schools; this is about Islam wanting to take over a once great Country!”
