School Protest in Marseille Turns Violent, Students Locked Down
Listen to the story
Students in Marseille were locked inside their school during a day of tension with police.
The school's headteacher told students that he no longer had control over the riot police, known in France as the CRS.
A large number of police officers were sent to the area, in what was described as an "XXL" police operation.
The trouble was linked to a wider student movement taking place in the city.
During the unrest, a police commissioner was attacked with a mortar firework, a type of firework that explodes with force.
He said that three people were hurt in the incident.
In a separate event, another police officer was injured when he was hit with a hammer during the protests.
It is not clear from reports exactly what the students were protesting about.
The situation shows rising tension between young protesters and police in Marseille.
Officials have not yet given more details about what will happen next.
Vocabulary6 words
- headteacher
- the person in charge of a school
- riot police
- police trained to control large, dangerous crowds
- operation
- a planned action by police or the army
- student movement
- a group of students who act together for a cause
- mortar firework
- a firework that shoots up and explodes loudly
- hammer
- a tool used to hit things, made of metal and wood
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Quiz
Answer key
1. He had no control over the riot police 2. With a mortar firework 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Students in Marseille were locked inside their school during a day of _____ with police.
The school's headteacher told students that he no longer had _____ over the riot police.
A large number of police officers were sent to the area, in what was described as an "XXL" police _____.
The trouble was linked to a wider _____ taking place in the city.
During the unrest, a police commissioner was attacked with a _____, a type of firework that explodes with force.
He said that _____ people were hurt in the incident.
In a separate event, another police officer was injured when he was hit with a _____ during the protests.
It is not clear from reports exactly what the students were _____ about.
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