A 15-year-old boy sustained a severe injury resulting in the loss of his hand during a confrontation between demonstrators and riot police in France, authorities confirmed. The incident occurred on Monday morning in the northeastern city of Lens, as part of an ongoing wave of student protests across the country.
François-Xavier Lauch, the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, described the event as a “very serious incident.” He assured the public that the teenager’s life is not in danger and stated that the student was transported rapidly to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The unrest stems from widespread dissatisfaction among students regarding deteriorating school infrastructure and staffing shortages. On Monday alone, approximately 500 schools were partially or completely closed. The clash took place near the Auguste Béhal high school, where Prefect Lauch reported that a significantly larger crowd than usual had gathered.
According to Lauch, the situation escalated early in the morning when students threw projectiles, including stones, fireworks, and mortars, at local police officers. In response, instructions were issued by the interdepartmental director of the National Police, with the prefect’s approval, to deploy a company of CRS riot police to restore order. It was during this deployment that the injury occurred.
Reporting on the specific cause of the injury has been mixed. The regional newspaper La Voix Du Nord alleged that the student lost his hand after picking up a police stun grenade, but officials have not yet released detailed findings confirming the exact circumstances.
A regional prosecutor announced that the General Inspection of the National Police (IGPN), France’s police watchdog, will conduct an investigation to determine the full details of what transpired.
In response to the day’s events, the Auguste Béhal high school issued a statement announcing an immediate shift to distance learning to ensure the safety of the school community. The institution also established a listening and support unit to assist students and staff during this period.
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