US President Donald Trump has attributed the unrest accompanying school protests in France to what he described as “out of control mass migration”, alleging that the demonstrations were connected to Islam’s supposed intention to take over the country.

Trump made the claim on Tuesday in a post on his Truth Social platform as students, parents and trade unions continued demonstrations and school blockades across several French cities.

“What’s happening in France is nothing less than out of control mass migration. This isn’t about schools, this is about Islam wanting to take over a great country!” Trump wrote.

The protests, however, have largely focused on concerns over France’s education system, with demonstrators demanding increased government funding, more teachers and improved school infrastructure.

Protests were reported in Paris, Marseille, Nice, Nantes, Lyon, Lille and other cities, with students raising concerns about overcrowded classrooms, staff shortages and deteriorating school facilities.

The demonstrations began among secondary school students in the Paris region towards the end of September before spreading to universities and attracting the participation of parents and trade unions.

The Union Syndicale Lycéenne (USL), one of the groups coordinating the protests, claimed that around 1,800 secondary schools had been blockaded or closed by Tuesday.

The group also claimed that about 90 per cent of universities had been affected by blockades, describing the mobilisation as unprecedented.

Among the protesters’ demands are the creation of 150,000 additional higher education places, €10 billion in emergency funding for school reconstruction and the recruitment of additional teachers.

The union said the demands followed earlier petitions and demonstrations which, according to the group, had failed to secure an adequate response from the government.

The protests have also been marked by confrontations between demonstrators and police, resulting in injuries and thousands of arrests.

French authorities said more than 5,000 people had been arrested during the preceding week, while at least 215 students had sustained injuries.

In Lens, northern France, a 15-year-old student suffered serious injuries after a sting-ball grenade exploded during a confrontation between protesters and police on Monday.

The Pas-de-Calais prefect, François-Xavier Lauch, said the teenager’s life was not in danger but described the incident as serious.

Authorities said riot police had been deployed near Auguste Béhal High School after protesters allegedly threw stones, fireworks and mortars at officers.

However, students gave conflicting accounts of the incident, with some claiming the teenager was struck directly by a police officer, while authorities said he had picked up the device.

The French police watchdog, the General Inspection of the National Police (IGPN), has opened an investigation into the incident.

Other students have also reportedly been injured during the unrest. A 14-year-old student was allegedly struck in the head by a tear-gas canister the previous week, resulting in a fractured jaw, while a 16-year-old reportedly lost sight in his right eye during a school blockade in Tours.

In Lille, protesters erected barricades outside schools and called for increased investment in education. Rubbish bins were reportedly set ablaze outside Lycée Fénelon before firefighters intervened, while police maintained a presence around the area.

Parents have also joined the demonstrations under the “Parents Present” movement.

In Marseille and other cities, students and parents marched with banners as police in protective gear were deployed around some protest sites.

The unrest intensified after authorities announced the closure of hundreds of schools because of security concerns.

Education Minister Édouard Geffray said between 400 and 500 high schools would be completely closed on Monday after authorities determined that security conditions could not be guaranteed.

He also disclosed that 24 schools had been burned or vandalised since the protests began.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin had earlier said 735 of France’s 3,700 schools had been affected in some way by violent demonstrations.

Geffray said 78 education workers had been injured during the unrest, describing the figure as unprecedented. He also accused far-left activists of infiltrating the student movement and contributing to the violence.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 1,747 people were arrested on Friday alone, bringing the total number of arrests since the protests began to more than 5,000. About 85 per cent of those arrested were reportedly minors.

Despite the disruption, Geffray acknowledged that some of the protesters’ demands were legitimate.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the government was working on measures to address challenges facing students and education workers, including keeping classes operational, improving school facilities, reorganising school timetables and increasing transparency in the university admissions process.

The government is also considering a proposed “vandal-pays” law that would require those responsible for damage during the unrest to bear the cost of repairs.

Student organisations and trade unions are expected to continue with further demonstrations and school blockades.

Trump’s comments came as the protests remained largely centred on education-related grievances and French authorities continued efforts to contain the unrest.