French Government Suspends Use of Stun Grenades Following High School Protest Injury

French authorities have suspended the use of stun grenades at high school demonstrations following an incident in Lens, northern France, where a 15-year-old student lost a hand. According to The Guardian, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced the temporary ban on Wednesday, stating the measure will remain in place “until we know exactly what happened in this case.”

The injured student’s mother stated in a media interview that her son’s hand had been amputated. While authorities have not confirmed the precise circumstances of the injury, they noted that police were responding to a group of up to 200 protesters who were throwing projectiles at riot squads.

This development follows two weeks of widespread student unrest across France, driven by concerns over teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and the state of school buildings. The education ministry reported that 429 of France’s 3,700 high schools were partially or fully suspended as of Wednesday. While many marches remained peaceful, some demonstrations—including those in Paris—have involved vandalism, fires, and clashes between protesters and police.

Minister Nuñez rejected claims of systematic police brutality, telling parliament that accusations of “police repression” were “excessive” and insisting that officers only intervene during violent incidents. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also denied that security forces have orders to confront students. Despite these denials, the government faces criticism from rights groups and unions, with Amnesty France calling for a permanent ban on stun grenades, citing the potential for life-changing injuries.

According to government figures, 215 teenagers and 89 school staff have been injured since the protests began, alongside 761 police officers. More than 6,600 people have been arrested, and the justice ministry reports that nearly 1,500 minors are currently being prosecuted.

Prime Minister Lecornu promised that the government would present an action plan by the end of October to address grievances regarding school conditions. The movement has created political tension ahead of upcoming presidential elections, with the government alleging that the La France Insoumise party has encouraged the unrest.