French unions vow to take protests “to the next level” as 250,000 march

Protests are taking place across France after five unions launched a national day of strike action, joining high school students and demonstrators criticising the rising cost of living.

More than 250,000 people had taken to the streets in almost 70 towns and cities by 13:00 (12:00 GMT) on Thursday, and that was “just the start”, said Sophie Binet of the CGT union.

The unions have vowed to take the wave of protests that began in September over poor conditions and resources at lycées (high schools) “to the next level”. They have since spread to include workers and the so-called “yellow-vest” movement against high prices.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 70,000 police were being deployed, vowing “an extremely firm response” to any potential outbreaks of violence.

Some unrest has been reported in the cities of Lyon and Rennes. A car was set alight near the Gallieni bridge over the Rhône river in central Lyon, as hundreds of people belonging to the radical left-wing “black bloc” clashed with police.

Meanwhile, there were clashes in the north-western city of Rennes, where the local prefect said a “hostile group of masked individuals” had gathered in front of the main union march.