A masked protester burned a woman’s face with a makeshift flamethrower after she tried to stop an act of vandalism.
Shocking footage shows the woman engaged in a tug-of-war with masked protesters wielding a barrier.
Seconds later, a hooded individual clad from head to toe in black presses the nozzle of an aerosol spray in front of a lighter, creating a makeshift flamethrower.
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He then directs the flame at the woman’s face from close range.
Onlookers can be heard shrieking as the woman flinches and grabs her face in shock.
The hooded individual then casually walks away from the scene.
The horror unfolded near Place du 4 Septembre in Marseille, France, yesterday (1 October), amid ongoing protests by high-school students.
The woman who was attacked reportedly filed a complaint in Marseille earlier today (2 October).
An online post in connection with the incident has called for witnesses, as reported by Need To Know.
It reads: “This morning, 1 October 2026, at around 10am, at the Place du 4 Septembre bus stop, we were waiting for the bus when, all of a sudden, among the high-school students, some stupid girls took the metal barrier and started trying to smash up the bus shelter.
“My friend Jade tried to stop them, blocking them and talking to them. She was violently attacked, and one of them burned the left side of her face by spraying her with a spray and using a lighter.
“Fortunately, there were no serious burns (first-degree burns).
“The firefighters and gendarmes intervened.
“Anyone who witnessed what happened, please contact me privately.
“Especially the woman wearing the black vest – she was the only person who intervened before they fled.
“I hope the CCTV camera was working.”
The protests began in the Paris region in late September before spreading to cities across France.
Students are demanding more teachers, better-funded schools and action on overcrowded classes and run-down facilities.
They have also raised concerns over long timetables and pressure surrounding the university admissions system Parcoursup.
The movement is largely made up of secondary school pupils aged 15 to 18, with university students now joining in some areas.
While most of the demands centre on education, some demonstrations have descended into clashes, vandalism and fires.
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