A 15‑year‑old student in the northern town of Lens had his hand blown off after handling a police‑issued grenade during a confrontation between school demonstrators and law‑enforcement officers, officials said on Wednesday. The incident occurred as France entered its third week of large‑scale school protests that began in early October over overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and deteriorating infrastructure.
Incident in Lens
According to the prefect of the Pas‑de‑Calais department, the teenager’s life is not in danger despite the "very serious" injury. The prefect’s office confirmed that the grenade, which had been deployed by police as a crowd‑control device, detonated when the boy attempted to pick it up. A police watchdog has opened an investigation into the use of the explosive device, as reported by Al Jazeera and Reuters.
"The 15‑year‑old's hand was blown off when he tried to pick up a police‑issued grenade during the clash," the prefect’s statement said.
The boy’s injury has become a focal point of the protests, with students and parents demanding accountability for the police’s deployment of grenades in public spaces.
Wider Student Unrest
Student mobilisations have now spread to between 400 and 500 schools, according to coverage by France 24 and The Guardian. Lessons were suspended on Monday in hundreds of high schools, and many institutions remain closed as the movement enters its third week. Protesters are calling for smaller class sizes, better‑equipped classrooms and a reversal of policies that they say have led to chronic teacher shortages.
The demonstrations have been marked by repeated clashes with police. The Guardian reported that nearly 200 students have been injured across the country, while DW.com noted that “hundreds of French schools shut” and that the confrontations have become increasingly violent.
Political and Police Response
President Emmanuel Macron’s government has faced mounting pressure as the protests threaten to disrupt the national education calendar. The interior ministry defended the use of non‑lethal weapons, saying they are deployed only when necessary to protect public order. However, opposition parties, including the conservative People’s Party, have criticised what they describe as an “excessive police response,” as noted in a live blog by The Guardian.
Legal experts cited by RFI point out that French law permits the use of grenades for crowd control, but the recent injury raises questions about the adequacy of training and oversight. The ongoing police‑watchdog probe will examine whether the device was used in compliance with national regulations.
Future Demonstrations and Outlook
Authorities have warned that a national day of school protests is planned for Tuesday, with thousands of students expected to march in cities across France. The Guardian and Al Jazeera both highlighted the anticipation of larger demonstrations, underscoring growing concerns about the police’s handling of the unrest.
Student unions have called for an immediate halt to the use of grenades and other crowd‑control weapons, demanding that the government engage in dialogue on education reform. Meanwhile, education officials are preparing contingency plans to limit further disruption, including the possible resumption of remote learning where schools remain closed.
As the protests continue, the incident in Lens stands as a stark reminder of the human cost of the standoff. The teenage victim’s ordeal has intensified calls for a reassessment of policing tactics and a renewed focus on the underlying issues that have driven French students onto the streets.
