PARIS — France has temporarily suspended the use of stun grenades by police during high-school student protests after a 15-year-old boy suffered a severe hand injury during a demonstration in the northern city of Lens.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced the suspension on Wednesday, October 7, saying the devices would not be used at high-school protests until authorities establish exactly what happened during the Lens incident.
Teenager Suffers Severe Injury
The incident occurred on Monday, October 5, near Auguste-Béhal High School in Lens, where students had gathered as part of nationwide protests over conditions in French schools.
The teenager’s hand was blown off during the confrontation. Authorities have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the injury.
There are conflicting accounts of how the incident happened. Initial reports cited by Reuters said a local newspaper reported that the teenager picked up a police stun grenade before it exploded. However, the boy’s mother later disputed that account, saying her son had not attempted to pick up the device.
French authorities have therefore avoided drawing conclusions about the circumstances while the investigation continues.
Police Face Growing Scrutiny
The suspension comes amid increasing scrutiny of police tactics during the student demonstrations.
Nuñez said the police oversight body, the Inspectorate General of the National Police (IGPN), had opened 18 investigations into alleged police misconduct during the protests. Other incidents have also involved serious injuries to young demonstrators.
The government has maintained that police officers intervene to protect public order, while rights groups and trade unions have raised concerns about the proportionality of some policing methods.
Protests Spread Across France
The demonstrations began over concerns including teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, deteriorating school facilities and long school days.
The movement has since expanded beyond students, drawing parents, teachers and trade unions into nationwide demonstrations.
On Tuesday, October 6, more than 250,000 people reportedly participated in demonstrations across France, according to figures reported by international media. The protests were accompanied in some locations by clashes between demonstrators and police.
More than 500 schools were fully or partially closed on Wednesday as the unrest continued, according to reports.
President Emmanuel Macron also held an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and other senior ministers as the government faced growing pressure to address the demonstrations.
Investigation To Determine What Happened
The French government has said the suspension of stun grenades at high-school demonstrations will remain in place while investigators establish the circumstances of the Lens incident.
The case has renewed debate over the use of crowd-control weapons during demonstrations involving minors, while authorities continue investigations into allegations of excessive force.
For now, officials have emphasised the need to establish the facts before assigning responsibility for the teenager’s life-changing injury.
