France has ordered an immediate pause on the deployment of stun grenades by police during student protests, following a severe injury to a 15-year-old boy in the northern city of Lens. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed the suspension, stating that the decision was made until the circumstances surrounding the incident are fully clarified amid conflicting reports from protesters and officials.
Nuñez emphasized that the government remains committed to protecting high school students, noting that 18 investigations have been opened by the internal affairs watchdog (IGPN) to assess whether police actions were proportional during the nationwide demonstrations. These protests, which began in mid-September, have expanded beyond high school pupils to include parents, university students, and trade unions.
The controversial incident occurred near the Auguste Béhal high school, where the teenager’s hand was severed after an anti-encirclement grenade detonated nearby. While authorities claim the boy picked up the device, causing it to explode, students allege he was struck directly by an officer’s fire. The stun grenade is classified as a non-lethal weapon that releases small rubber pellets upon detonation.
Violence and disruptions continued into Wednesday, with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu preparing to address the nation regarding the school protests. Education Minister Édouard Geffray reported that 24 schools have been severely vandalized or set ablaze, forcing closures for several weeks and impacting approximately 30,000 pupils. On Tuesday alone, more than 500 schools across France were partially or fully shut.
The interior ministry reported 488 arrests and 43 injured security force members from the Tuesday demonstrations. In a separate case, a 14-year-old boy suffered a fractured jaw and lost teeth after being hit in the face with a tear gas grenade in Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône; a police officer has since been charged in connection with that injury.
Police union representative Jean-Paul Nascimento expressed skepticism about the suspension, arguing the move was driven by emotion rather than operational necessity. He warned that without stun grenades to disperse crowds, clashes may occur at closer range, potentially leading to increased injuries. Meanwhile, Macron’s emergency meeting with ministers concluded with plans for further talks, as student unions announced a fourth round of protests for Thursday.
Why are fifteen-year-olds even being exposed to rubber pellets? Something is terribly wrong here.
Police unions are right though. Banning tools abruptly might lead to rougher crowd control methods later.
My nephew was in those schools. The violence from vandals is real, but police escalation is worrying too.
I support the suspension, but we need a full inquiry. If he picked it up, that changes everything.
This is absolutely terrifying. A child losing a hand during a protest is completely unacceptable.