School staff condemn police action

Staff members at the Paul-Éluard high school in Saint-Denis condemned a "violent" police intervention on October 15, during which plainclothes officers arrested a student on school grounds. They described the police as having reacted aggressively, including striking colleagues who tried to prevent the arrest.

Videos show police arrest

Several videos obtained by AFP show plainclothes police officers, including at least one wearing a "police" armband, detaining a teenager within the school. Staff members are seen attempting to stop the arrest, chanting "Free our student" as they opposed the action.

Principal allowed police entry

According to the police prefecture, the school principal had requested the police to intervene. Authorities stated that police cannot enter school premises without being invited by the school administration. This detail has been emphasized as part of the official response to the incident.

School at center of student movement

The Paul-Éluard high school has been a focal point of the student movement, which began three weeks earlier. The school has received attention from local officials, including Saint-Denis mayor Bally Bagayoko of the LFI party, who has visited the school multiple times in recent days.

Activists and lawyers involved

Lawyers visited the school earlier in the week to protest the conditions of detention for arrested students. Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg also demonstrated at the school on Tuesday, showing support for the French student movement.