Teenager loses hand picking up grenade in France school protests

A 15-year-old student in France lost a hand recently while participating in a protest demanding improved school conditions. The incident occurred in Lens, where the teenager is believed to have picked up a police grenade, which subsequently exploded in his hand. The protests, which have been ongoing since late September, were sparked by grievances such as teacher absences, overcrowded timetables, and outdated classrooms.

Some students returned to classrooms, while others continued protests outside their schools, anticipating larger demonstrations on Tuesday. Authorities suspect the teenager's injury happened when he retrieved the grenade from a riot police officer. The French Human Rights League criticized security forces for employing excessive force during the protests, many of which involved minors.

The movement began with a high school strike in Paris's Creteil suburb and quickly gained traction, leading to disruptions at hundreds of schools nationwide. The government has taken steps to address some of the students' demands, but accusations of hard-left activists hijacking the movement persist.