France Haults Use of Stun Grenades Pending Investigation

France has halted the use of stun grenades in policing student protests following a disturbing incident that left a 15-year-old boy severely injured. The teenager lost his hand after being hit by a stun grenade during Monday's demonstrations in Lens.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced the suspension pending clarification on the circumstances surrounding the incident, with conflicting accounts emerging from protesters and officials. Several groups have accused police of using excessive force against young demonstrators, sparking widespread outrage.

The protests, which began as a call for better school conditions, have spread rapidly across the country with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets on Tuesday. In some cities, tear gas and water cannon were deployed, resulting in 488 arrests and leaving 43 security personnel injured.

Education Minister Édouard Geffray reported that 24 schools had been severely damaged or vandalized, forcing them to close for several weeks and affecting nearly 30,000 pupils. The disruption continued on Wednesday with over 500 schools partially or fully shut, prompting Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to address the nation later in the evening.

The interior ministry has launched 18 investigations into police conduct during the protests, with watchdog IGPN tasked with determining whether officers acted proportionately.

The French government has suspended the use of stun grenades in police operations until further notice, following a disturbing incident during student protests in Lens. The city lies near Lille in northern France and was the site where a 15-year-old boy's hand was torn off after an anti-encirclement grenade exploded.

According to authorities, the boy picked up the grenade which then detonated, but students have disputed this account, claiming he was directly hit by a police officer. The incident occurred when police confronted a group of 200-250 students throwing stones and fireworks.

The use of stun grenades is considered non-lethal, as they release small rubber pellets upon detonation. However, the severity of the boy's injury has raised questions about whether police acted proportionately in this situation. An investigation into the incident is now underway to determine what exactly happened.

The government has emphasized its commitment to protecting high school students during protests, with Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin confirming that the use of stun grenades would be suspended until the facts surrounding this case have been clarified.

Protesters and their families are calling for accountability as the number of serious injuries sustained by students during demonstrations continues to rise.

A 16-year-old boy in Strasbourg suffered a severe hand injury while handling a mortar firework outside his school on Wednesday, according to reports. The incident is just one of several high-profile cases of alleged police brutality and excessive force being used against protesters.

Prosecutors have opened an investigation into the attempted murder of a 17-year-old student who claimed he was forced underwater by a police officer while trying to be arrested near a river in Belfort. In a surprising twist, the protester has been charged with aggravated assault for allegedly attacking the officer involved.

The incident is just one example of the tensions between protesters and law enforcement escalating as protests continue across France. The government's decision to suspend the use of stun grenades has done little to quell concerns about police tactics.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders are seizing on the issue, accusing the prime minister of trying to deflect attention from his own party's role in fueling the unrest.

French Interior Minister Sebastien Lecornu has expressed concern over the escalating violence in student protests that have been ongoing since mid-September. He noted that a significant number of students, staff members, and police officers have been injured in the clashes.

According to government figures, more than 6,500 people have been stopped or arrested during this time. The interior ministry has provided these statistics, highlighting the extent of the unrest. Meanwhile, President Macron held an emergency meeting with Lecornu and other key ministers to address the crisis.

The protests have disrupted almost a quarter of all lycées, with government estimates suggesting over 250,000 people participated in the day's demonstrations. Students' unions, however, claim that as many as 450,000 protesters took to the streets, planning another round of protests for Thursday in Paris and other cities.