Saint-Denis Mayor Bally Bagayoko has warned of the risk of serious injuries or deaths among student protesters in France, urging authorities to exercise caution as tensions between demonstrators and police continue to escalate.
Speaking to franceinfo, the La France Insoumise (LFI) mayor of Saint-Denis, in the Seine-Saint-Denis department, expressed concern over the handling of demonstrations involving high school students, university students, trade unionists and Yellow Vest protesters.
“I fear the death of high school students,” Bagayoko said, calling for extreme caution and renewed dialogue between the authorities and protesters.
The mayor criticised what he described as an overly security-focused response by the French government, arguing that maintaining public order alone would not resolve the issues behind the ongoing student mobilisation.
Mayor Raises Concerns Over Police Response
Bagayoko referred to the death of Malik Oussekine, a 22-year-old student who died in December 1986 after being beaten by police in Paris during student demonstrations. He cited the incident as a reminder of the potentially tragic consequences of confrontations between protesters and law enforcement officers.
The mayor also defended his controversial remarks about “legitimate violence”, explaining that the term did not necessarily refer to physical acts but could also describe feelings of indignation.
His comments previously prompted the Paris police prefect to refer the matter to the judicial authorities on September 30, amid concerns that the statements could constitute incitement to commit an offence.
Bagayoko, however, maintained that he had repeatedly called for calm and had personally intervened during demonstrations to prevent confrontations between young protesters and police.
Looting Reported in Saint-Denis
Meanwhile, an online call encouraging people to loot shops in central Saint-Denis circulated on Sunday, raising further concerns about public order.
According to reports, municipal police warned shopkeepers and advised them to close their shutters. Several cinemas and the Gérard-Philipe Theatre also shut their doors as a precaution.
Although the Foot Locker store had barricaded its premises with wooden boards, another sports retailer, Snipes, near Rue de la République, was reportedly completely looted later in the day.
Bagayoko has also drawn attention to injuries reportedly sustained by young people during the protests, calling on President Emmanuel Macron to apologise to affected families.
As demonstrations continue across France, the mayor is urging authorities and protesters to avoid escalation and prioritise dialogue to prevent further violence.
