Police said 1,949 people were arrested and 305 officers injured as protests spread to more than 1,000 high schools across France.

Student protests over crumbling schools and teacher shortages have spread across France and turned increasingly violent, prompting a crisis meeting Thursday called by PM Sebastien Lecornu.

French security forces detained over 600 people while dozens of police and gendarmes were wounded as protests that have seen blockades of high schools and violent clashes escalated, the interior minister said.

Several school principals were injured, harassed or assaulted during blockades at high schools on Thursday, according to reports from regional education authorities, prefectures and union representatives.