France suspends stun grenade use at student protests ahead of PM speech

France has suspended the use of stun grenades by police at student-led demonstrations, the interior minister announced on Wednesday, amid allegations of police brutality during days of sometimes violent protests across the country. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets on Tuesday demanding improved conditions in high schools.

That evening, President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and other key ministers to address the crisis. Lecornu will speak later on Wednesday about the school protests and the national finances, his office said, amid contentious debates over the country's 2027 budget. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez informed radio broadcaster RTL early Wednesday that he had suspended the use of police stun grenades at the protests, stating that the decision was made to clarify the facts of an incident where a 15-year-old lost a hand after being struck by a stun grenade.

Nunez emphasized that the suspension applied solely to the high school student protests and for a brief period until the investigation was complete. The use of stun grenades against high school students only came to an end after several children suffered permanent injuries, according to Manuel Bompard, the national coordinator of the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party.

The government has accused the LFI of exacerbating tensions surrounding the protests. The demonstrations began in late September, with students blocking entrances to hundreds of high schools due to complaints about outdated facilities and teacher shortages. While most schools reopened on Wednesday, over 500 remained partially closed with students obstructing the doors with bags of trash.

Parents, teachers, and union workers joined the demonstrations in Paris and other cities on Tuesday, marking a national day of mobilization. At least 488 people were arrested, and 43 security force members were injured during the protests, which saw a quarter of a million people gather across France. The majority of the day's demonstrations were peaceful, but sporadic clashes occurred as protesters hurled projectiles and security forces deployed tear gas, according to AFP correspondents.

Lecornu announced that a half-day of class time would be set aside in schools on Wednesday for an "internal democratic dialogue" to provide students and staff with a chance to voice their concerns. However, student union leader Ryad Rani dismissed the effort as yet another attempt to silence the debate and gain time. School principals' union representative Nicolas Bonnet told broadcaster franceinfo that addressing the crisis required more than just consultation periods.

Lecornu condemned the violence on Tuesday, assuring lawmakers that it would not be tolerated, while also rejecting allegations that the government had ordered police repression against protesters. Over 6,500 people, primarily minors, have been arrested since the movement began, with at least 215 students and 715 police officers injured and 85 teaching staff also wounded.