A 15-year-old student lost a hand on Monday while picking up a police grenade during student protests in the northern town of Lens, France. The incident occurred as students across France demanded better classroom conditions, with protests erupting into blazes and barricades at some schools. The teenager was hospitalized in Lille and is "out of danger," according to Francois-Xavier Lauch, the prefect for the northern Pas-de-Calais region. Authorities said the teenager appeared to have picked up a sting-ball grenade fired by riot police, which exploded in his hand.
The protests, which began on September 17, have spread across France, with over 400 of the country's 3,700 high schools partially or totally closed on Monday. Students have been blocking school entrances, complaining of teacher absences, overloaded timetables, dilapidated classrooms, and buildings ill-adapted to rising temperatures. The unrest has ignited just months before the 2027 elections that will determine the successor to centrist President Emmanuel Macron. The government has sought to address the grievances, while accusing hard-left activists of hijacking the protest movement.
The French Human Rights League (LDH) accused security forces of using disproportionate methods against protesters, many of whom are legally minors. Internal investigations have been opened into at least six instances of alleged police brutality. The protests have also resulted in 24 schools being damaged, with some students making their way into class despite the disruptions. In central Paris, dozens of teenage students demonstrated outside a school while passing cars honked their horns.
The movement gained momentum and spread across France, at times spiraling into vandalism, including the destruction of bus shelters, the burning of school entrances, and clashes between protesters and security forces. More than 5,000 people, 87 percent of them minors, have been arrested since the start of the movement. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu urged local authorities to prioritize filling gaps left by long-term teacher absences and unfilled posts.
Lecornu called a meeting for Tuesday with regional presidents to discuss overhauling the country's often-dilapidated school buildings. The government is also pushing legislation to make those responsible for damaging public property pay for repairs themselves, instead of drawing on public funds. Government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon defended the bill, citing the need for "parental responsibility" in addressing the unrest.
The draft law could allow compensation payments to be recovered from family allowances and housing benefits, while preserving a minimum income threshold. However, the head of the main labor union (CGT), Sophie Binet, slammed what she called a "populist announcement," which she said would "end up targeting the most vulnerable families." The protests are expected to continue, with larger demonstrations expected on Tuesday, dubbed "Act III" by a secondary school students' union.
The protests have disrupted lessons at hundreds of schools nationwide, with some students expressing frustration with the education system. "It's clear the education system isn't working," said Alma, a pupil at the Lycee Charlemagne in central Paris. The government has sought to address the grievances, but the protests continue, with students demanding better conditions and more resources for their schools.
Key points
- A 15-year-old student lost a hand picking up a police grenade during student protests in France.
- Over 400 of France's 3,700 high schools were partially or totally closed on Monday due to protests.
- The protests have resulted in 24 schools being damaged and over 5,000 people arrested.
