Frankreich: Polizeigranate reißt 15-Jährigem bei Schülerprotest Hand ab

In a protest at a high school in Lens, northern France, a 15-year-old student had his hand blown off by a police grenade, according to police and prosecutor statements. The student, who suffered serious injuries, was taken to a hospital in Lille but was not in immediate danger of death, the authorities said. The General Inspection of the National Police has launched an investigation into the police deployment.

It is not yet clear what type of grenade was used. Nationwide protests at high schools had previously seen students demonstrate in front of schools in Lens. Police reported that officers from a group of 200 to 250 students were confronted with stones and fireworks. As a result, the emergency police arrived at the school and the incident occurred.

It remains to be determined whether the severely injured student threw the grenade at the crowd or if it landed directly in his hand. A student reportedly said, "His hand exploded." Students told the local news outlet Ici Nord that they had intended to block the school entrance when police used tear gas and grenades. "I was next to the injured student.

Suddenly something hit his hand and it exploded," said one student. The grenade used was identified as a flash grenade, whose deployment during demonstrations is controversial. Over 400 schools in France saw student protests again at the start of the week for better school equipment and learning conditions. Hundreds of schools remained closed due to violent incidents during protests the previous week. Student councils called for nationwide protests on this Tuesday, with support from labor unions.