French Mayor Intervenes As Police Move Towards Student Protesters; Clash On Video

8th October 2026 at 12:53 PM

1 minute read

Paris : As student protests intensify across France, a video circulating online shows Saint-Denis Mayor Bally Bagayoko stepping between police officers and young demonstrators. In the footage, Bagayoko appears to shield the protesters while repeatedly shouting “stop” as officers move towards the group.

He said many of the protesters had shown no aggressive behaviour towards officers and that he was urging police not to move against them. Police eventually fired tear gas at the group, including the mayor, Bagayoko told reporters on Wednesday at his town hall office in Saint-Denis, on the northern outskirts of Paris. “The high school children who were in the street could be my children … it is my responsibility to be at their side,” he said.

French mayor Bally Bagayoko stepped in to protect student protestors from police. https://t.co/8FujtjHXCq
— Complex (@Complex) October 7, 2026

He called on the Interior Minister to urgently review the directives before a tragedy occurred, while urging the protesters to remain united and non-violent, saying their numbers and determination would force the government to listen. Tuesday’s confrontation came amid more than two weeks of student protests across France, which began in marginalised areas of Paris, including Saint-Denis, where poverty levels are more than twice the national average.

The unrest has also fuelled wider public anger six months ahead of an election to replace French President Emmanuel Macron. More than 6,000 people have been arrested and dozens of students injured since the protests began. Rights groups and unions have accused police of using heavy-handed tactics against minors, including batons, tear gas and non-lethal flashball guns.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said there was a “strong possibility” that a stun grenade caused the injury and that 18 incidents had been referred to the police inspectorate for investigation. More than 500 schools remained closed a day after demonstrations swept across the country, while unions representing high-school students, teachers and other workers planned further marches.