France has suspended the use of stun grenades during student protests after a 15-year-old boy lost his hand in an incident involving police in the northern city of Lens.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez ordered the temporary suspension while authorities investigate what happened near Auguste Béhal High School on Monday. Officials and protesters have provided conflicting accounts of the incident, with authorities saying the teenager picked up a grenade before it exploded, while students claim he was directly hit after an officer fired it.
The incident has intensified concerns over police tactics as student protests continue across France. Nuñez said the police watchdog IGPN had opened 18 investigations into whether officers used proportionate force during recent demonstrations.
The protests, which began in mid-September, have expanded from high school students to university students, parents and trade unions. More than 500 schools were fully or partially disrupted on Wednesday, while hundreds of thousands of people joined demonstrations on Tuesday demanding improved school conditions.
France’s Interior Ministry said 488 people were arrested during Tuesday’s protests and 43 security personnel were injured. Since the demonstrations began, more than 6,500 people have reportedly been stopped or arrested, while the government says 215 students, 85 school staff and 715 police officers have been injured.
Police used tear gas and water cannon in several cities as clashes were reported. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has condemned violence during the protests and is expected to address the country amid growing pressure over the crisis.
President Emmanuel Macron held an emergency meeting with Lecornu and senior ministers on Tuesday after protests disrupted nearly a quarter of France’s lycées. Government estimates put Tuesday’s turnout at more than 250,000 protesters, while student unions claimed the figure was around 450,000.
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A fourth round of protests is planned for Thursday in Paris and other cities. High school union leader Ryad Rani has called for restraint, urging the interior minister to ensure police officers exercise greater caution during demonstrations.
