France Suspends Stun Grenades at High-School Protests After Student Loses Hand

France has temporarily halted the use of stun grenades by police at high-school demonstrations following severe injuries sustained by a teenage protester, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced on Wednesday. The directive came after a 15-year-old student lost his hand during clashes between riot squad officers and approximately 200 projectile-throwing youths in Lens, northern France. Nuñez stated that the suspension would remain in effect "until we know exactly what happened," as investigators work to determine whether the explosive munition struck the teenager directly or detonated as he handled it.

The victim's mother told BFMTV that her son's hand had to be amputated, asking, "He’s a 15-year-old kid, how can children be treated like that?" Over a fortnight of nationwide unrest, at least 215 teenagers, 85 school staff members, and around 750 police officers have been injured. Nuñez confirmed that authorities have initiated 18 internal police investigations into alleged brutality, including incidents resulting in a student losing an eye and another losing multiple teeth, though he maintained that officers deployed force proportionally to protect public safety.

The unrest erupted over systemic educational grievances, including severe teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, deteriorating infrastructure, and exhausting school schedules. The escalation culminated in mass mobilizations that brought at least 250,000 students, parents, and union workers into the streets across major French cities. While many gatherings remained peaceful, violent fringe clashes resulted in 24 schools being ransacked or burned. The Justice Ministry reported that security forces have detained more than 6,500 people, the vast majority minors, with over 1,800 facing prosecution.

The widespread disruption has rattled President Emmanuel Macron’s administration ahead of crucial presidential elections, complicating state efforts to rein in a ballooning national budget deficit. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned the violence before parliament while rejecting accusations of state-sanctioned repression, noting that acute fiscal constraints severely limit the government's ability to finance major school reforms. Meanwhile, political friction continues to surge, with ministers accusing the radical-left La France Insoumise party of actively stoking the student blockades.