A 15-year-old student lost a hand on Monday after picking up a police grenade during nationwide protests over classroom conditions in France. The incident occurred in the northern town of Lens. According to a police union source, the teenager appeared to have picked up a sting-ball grenade fired by riot police, which exploded in his hand. This event highlights the escalating tensions between protesters and security forces.
The protests, which began on September 17, have disrupted lessons at hundreds of schools across France. Students have been complaining about various issues, including teacher absences, overloaded timetables, dilapidated classrooms, and buildings ill-adapted to rising temperatures. Since late September, students have blocked the entrances to hundreds of schools, prompting a significant response from authorities. The unrest comes 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 having hijacked the protest movement. However, the French Human Rights League (LDH) has accused security forces of using disproportionate methods against protesters, many of whom are legally minors. LDH president Nathalie Tehio stated that there is no directive to show restraint, even when dealing with children. This has raised concerns about the handling of the protests.
More than 400 out of France's 3,700 high schools were partially or totally closed on Monday morning, according to the education ministry. A third of the 468 lycees for teenagers aged 15 to 17 were expected to be closed in the Paris region. In central Paris, dozens of teenage students demonstrated outside a school while passing cars honked their horns. Some classmates made their way inside to attend lessons, highlighting the divided response among students.
In other parts of France, such as Bordeaux and Lille, protests continued with varying degrees of intensity. In Bordeaux, some students returned to the classroom while others continued to demonstrate in the presence of riot police. In Lille, masked protesters destroyed bus shelters and set fire to dustbins, prompting police to fire tear gas. The situation remained relatively calm in some areas but escalated in others.
The movement has resulted in significant disruptions, with 24 schools burned or ransacked, and over 5,000 people, 85 percent of them minors, arrested since the start of the movement. Protesters have also accused the police of using excessive force, and internal investigations have been opened into at least three instances of alleged police brutality. The government is pushing legislation to make those responsible for damaging public property pay for repairs.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has urged local authorities to prioritize filling gaps left by long-term teacher absences and unfilled posts. He has also called a meeting for Tuesday with regional presidents to discuss overhauling the country's often-dilapidated school buildings. The government spokeswoman, Maud Bregeon, defended the bill, stating that it raises questions about parental responsibility. The draft law could allow compensation payments to be recovered from family allowances and housing benefits.
Key points
- A 15-year-old student lost a hand picking up a police grenade during protests over classroom conditions in France.
- Over 400 high schools were partially or totally closed on Monday morning due to the protests.
- The protests have resulted in over 5,000 arrests and 24 schools burned or ransacked.
