Boy, 15, arrested after being caught on video blasting fire in woman’s face during France’s student riots

French police have arrested a 15-year-old boy who was caught on horrific video blasting fire in a woman’s face during a protest in Marseille, France.

The shocking footage shows the boy, whose face was covered by a mask, spray fire at a woman standing in front of a bus stop, using a makeshift flame-thrower that appears to be made with an aerosol can and a lighter.

The victim suffered first-degree burns to her face, according to Le Parisien. She received medical treatment at the scene.

The attack occurred Friday amid nation-wide student protests demanding better school conditions.

The young protesters are complaining about poor facilities, overheated classrooms and excessive staff absences.

Education Minister Edourd Geffray called the movement “legitimate at the outset” but said it has now been “taken hostage by ultra-left groups.”

Protests escalated with high-school students lighting fires outside of schools across France.

More than 5,000 people have been arrested since the start of the protests, said Interior Minister Laurent Nunez to French television channel TF1. The majority of those detained have been minors that are in high school.

“For a week now, unspeakable violence has struck our schools. High schools are being attacked, buildings are being vandalized, sometimes set on fire, and staff are being targeted,” said Geffray in a post on X.

“The initial demands called for a better public education service. Those who commit these acts want to destroy it.”

The Ministry of National Education announced that at least 400 high schools out of 3,700 across the country will be totally or partially closed Monday in response to the protests.