# French Interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, has defended the action of the police as the country struggles to contain its biggest student protests in decades. Police fired tear gas at protesters as thousands of pupils, teachers, parents and unions have been demonstrating across France since last week, calling for better school conditions. About 215 students and 85 teachers have been injured, as well as 715 police officers. Nuñez says the police response has been proportionate in almost all cases, and the protests had at times turned into riots, requiring police intervention.
France defends police action amid unprecedented student protests