France has suspended the use of stun grenades during student demonstrations after a 15-year-old boy lost his hand in an incident involving police near a high school in Lens. The move comes as protests over school conditions continue to spread across the country, with hundreds of schools disrupted and authorities facing growing scrutiny over the use of force.
Highlights
- France has temporarily halted the use of stun grenades during student protests.
- A 15-year-old boy lost his hand during an incident in Lens.
- Police watchdog IGPN has opened 18 investigations into protest policing.
- More than 500 schools were disrupted on Wednesday.
- Thousands have been arrested since the demonstrations began.
Main Story
France Suspends Stun Grenades
France has temporarily stopped the use of stun grenades by police during student demonstrations following a serious injury involving a teenager in the northern city of Lens.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the suspension would remain in place while authorities establish exactly what happened during Monday’s confrontation near Auguste Béhal High School.
The decision comes amid increasing complaints from student groups and others who say police have used excessive force during the demonstrations.
Teenager Loses Hand in Lens
The 15-year-old suffered severe injuries after a so-called anti-encirclement grenade exploded during the unrest.
There are conflicting accounts of the incident.
Authorities say the teenager picked up the device before it detonated. Some students, however, claim he was directly struck after an officer fired the grenade.
Local authorities said police had been confronted by between 200 and 250 students who were allegedly throwing stones and fireworks.
The exact circumstances remain under investigation.
Police Conduct Under Investigation
Nuñez said France’s police watchdog, the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN), has opened 18 investigations into police conduct during the protests.
The investigations are intended to establish whether officers used force proportionately.
The Interior Minister acknowledged that the Lens incident had raised serious questions within his ministry, while insisting that investigations should determine the facts.
The case comes after another teenager was seriously injured during a separate demonstration last week.
A 14-year-old boy in Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône, north-west of Paris, was reportedly struck in the face by a tear gas grenade. His lawyer said the teenager suffered several broken teeth and a fractured jaw. A police officer has since been charged over that incident.
Fresh Investigation After Belfort Arrest
Authorities are also investigating an incident involving a 17-year-old protester in Belfort.
Prosecutors opened an attempted murder investigation after the teenager alleged that a police officer held his head underwater while attempting to arrest him near a river.
The allegation is now subject to investigation, adding to mounting scrutiny over how French security forces are handling the demonstrations.
Hundreds of Schools Disrupted
The unrest continued on Wednesday, with more than 500 schools reportedly fully or partially affected.
The protests, which began in mid-September, have grown beyond high school students to include university students, parents and trade unions.
Demonstrators have been demanding improvements to school conditions, including better facilities and staffing.
On Tuesday, hundreds of thousands of people took part in demonstrations across France. Police deployed tear gas and water cannon in some cities as clashes and disruptions were reported.
The Interior Ministry said 488 people were arrested and 43 members of the security forces were injured during Tuesday’s protests.
Government Under Pressure
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is expected to address the school protests in an evening speech as his government seeks to respond to the growing unrest.
Lecornu has condemned violence during the demonstrations while acknowledging the scale of the disruption.
Government figures indicate that hundreds of students, education workers and police officers have been injured since the protests began, while thousands of people have been stopped or arrested.
President Emmanuel Macron also held an emergency meeting with senior ministers on Tuesday as authorities searched for ways to ease the crisis.
More Protests Planned
Student organisations say demonstrations will continue, with another round of protests expected in Paris and other French cities.
Ryad Rani, head of the USL high school union, has called on authorities to exercise restraint and reduce tensions between police and demonstrators.
The growing movement now presents the French government with a difficult balancing act: responding to students’ concerns while maintaining public order and addressing allegations surrounding police conduct.
As France confronts another wave of student unrest, the debate is no longer only about school conditions it is also about how far authorities should go to maintain order when young people take to the streets.
