15-Year-Old Student Loses Hand to Police Stun Grenade as French School Protests Turn Violent

A 15-year-old student lost his hand in the northern French city of Lens on Monday after picking up a police stun grenade during nationwide high school protests over severe staffing shortages and dilapidated classroom conditions.

The incident occurred during clashes between security forces and student demonstrators in the Pas-de-Calais department, where the teenager reportedly attempted to throw a tear gas or sting-ball grenade back toward police lines before it detonated in his hand.

Pas-de-Calais Prefect François-Xavier Lauch confirmed the injury was "extremely serious" but noted the teenager's life was not in danger.

The tragic injury starts a dangerous escalation in the unrest that began in mid-September in the Paris suburb of Créteil before spreading across the country, leaving over 400 high schools partially or completely blocked on Monday as students burned garbage bins, erected barricades, and clashed with riot police.
“We can see that in the instructions given to the police, there is no directive to show restraint, even though they are dealing with children.”
— Nathalie Tehio, President of the French Human Rights League (LDH)

Human rights groups, including the French Human Rights League (LDH), have accused security forces of using disproportionate tactics against teenage protesters, while government officials accuse hard-left political movements of hijacking student anger ahead of upcoming budget debates and political contests.

With at least 24 schools damaged by arson or looting and dozens of education workers and officers injured since the protests began, the French government has scheduled emergency meetings with regional leaders to address deteriorating school infrastructure while pushing new measures to hold violent demonstrators financially liable for public property damage.
What are your thoughts on police crowd-control measures during youth-led protests over public infrastructure and education funding? Drop your comments below!

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