Amidst ongoing student protests in France, the government has imposed a temporary ban on the use of stun grenades by the police.
This decision follows an incident in the northern city of Lens, where a 15-year-old student was seriously injured and lost his hand in a stun grenade explosion.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that he has instructed the police to suspend the use of stun grenades until the facts surrounding the Lens incident are fully clarified.
What happened in Lens?
The incident occurred on Monday near the Auguste Béhal High School in Lens. According to reports, a so-called ‘anti-encirclement’ grenade was used during a tense standoff between police and protesting students.
There are conflicting accounts of the incident from the police and the protesters. Local officials state that the grenade exploded after the 15-year-old student picked it up.
Meanwhile, some students claim that the grenade, thrown by a police officer, struck the student directly.
According to local authorities, a group of approximately 200 to 250 students was throwing stones and firecrackers at the police at the time of the incident.
Stun grenades are considered non-lethal weapons, but upon detonation, they can release small rubber pellets. This has raised questions regarding their use against protesters.
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Investigation into police action underway
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that the police oversight body, the IGPN, has launched 18 inquiries to examine the proportionality of police actions during the protests.
Nuñez stated that judicial inquiries are conducted whenever there is a suspicion of excessive use of force by the police. He also emphasized that protecting high school students is a government priority.
Meanwhile, several human rights groups have alleged that the police are using excessive force against the protesting teenagers.
Conversely, police unions argue that, given the escalating violence, officers require non-lethal options such as stun grenades for self-defense.
Related: Trump Blames France’s Student Protests on Mass Migration and Islam
Hundreds of thousands took to the streets on Tuesday
Massive protests took place across several French cities on Tuesday. In some locations, police deployed tear gas and water cannons to bring the protesters under control.
According to the French Interior Ministry, 488 people were arrested during Tuesday’s operations, while 43 security personnel sustained injuries.
Government figures indicate that since the protests began in mid-September, 215 students, 85 school staff members, and 715 police officers have been injured. Over 6,500 individuals have been detained or arrested during this period.
Over 500 schools affected
Student protests in France continue to intensify. By Wednesday morning, more than 500 schools were either fully or partially closed.
Speaking in the National Assembly, French Education Minister Édouard Geffray stated that 24 schools had suffered such severe damage due to arson or vandalism that they would have to remain closed for several weeks.
This is likely to disrupt the education of approximately 30,000 students.
Students are protesting against the government over issues such as dilapidated school buildings, teacher shortages, and overcrowding in classrooms.
Preparations for another major protest on Thursday
These protests are no longer confined to high school students; parents, university students, and labor unions are also joining the movement.
Student unions claim that approximately 450,000 people participated in Tuesday’s protests, while the government estimates the number of protesters to be over 250,000.
Student unions have called for a fourth round of protests on Thursday in several cities across France, including Paris.
Speaking on the radio on Wednesday, Riyad Rani, head of the high school union USL, urged the Interior Minister to rein in the police and called on officers to exercise restraint.
Political Controversy Escalates
The student protests are now turning into a political controversy. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has condemned the violence that erupted during some of the demonstrations.
The government has accused the left-wing party ‘France Unbowed’ (LFI) of attempting to incite chaos in the country ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
LFI national coordinator Manuel Bompard has criticized the government, stating that the authorities waited until several youths were seriously injured before banning the use of grenades.
Meanwhile, right-wing leader Marine Le Pen has accused President Emmanuel Macron of backing the police.
Amidst this, President Macron held an urgent meeting late Tuesday night with Prime Minister Lecornu and other senior ministers.
The government is now seeking ways to bring the situation under control in the wake of the escalating student protests and violence.
Currently, an investigation is underway regarding an incident in Lens where a 15-year-old student was injured; the government has decided to ban the use of stun grenades until this inquiry is concluded.
