France has suspended the use of stun grenades for policing student protests following a severe incident involving a 15-year-old boy. The boy's hand was blown off earlier in the week when a stun grenade exploded near his high school in Lens, a city in northern France. The incident has sparked widespread concern and criticism of police tactics during the protests. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced the suspension pending an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The protests, which began in mid-September, have spread across France with students demanding better school conditions. The demonstrations have sometimes turned violent, with reports of stone-throwing and clashes between protesters and police. On Tuesday, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets, and in some cities, police deployed tear gas and water cannons. The interior ministry reported 488 arrests and 43 police officers injured during the protests.
The stun grenade, considered a non-lethal weapon, expels small rubber pellets upon detonation. Authorities have provided conflicting accounts of the incident in Lens, with officials stating the boy picked up the grenade which then exploded, while students claim he was directly hit by a police officer's projectile. An investigation by the police watchdog, IGPN, has been opened to determine if officers acted proportionately during the demonstrations.
Concerns over police tactics have been heightened by additional incidents. A 14-year-old boy was hit in the face with a tear gas grenade, resulting in the loss of several teeth and a fractured jaw. A police officer has been charged in connection with this incident. Furthermore, an investigation for attempted murder has been initiated after a 17-year-old student alleged a police officer held his head underwater during an arrest.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is set to address the nation regarding the school protests in an evening address. The government has condemned violence at some protests, with over 6,500 people stopped or arrested since mid-September. President Emmanuel Macron held an emergency meeting with key ministers to find a resolution to the crisis, which has disrupted almost a quarter of all high schools.
Student unions have called for a fourth round of protests in Paris and other cities. The head of the USL high school union, Ryad Rani, urged restraint from police officers, stating, "We are telling M. Nuñez, calm your police officers down and call for restraint." The protests have resulted in over 250,000 people participating, according to government figures, while student unions estimate the number at 450,000.
The French government faces pressure to address the concerns of students and parents. More than 500 schools were fully or partially shut on Wednesday due to the protests. The interior ministry and police are under scrutiny for their handling of the demonstrations, with 18 investigations opened to determine if officers acted proportionately.
Key points
- France suspends use of stun grenades amid student protests
- 15-year-old boy's hand blown off in Lens incident
- Student protests continue with over 250,000 participants nationwide
