{
  "id": 12602040,
  "title": "France halts use of stun grenades after boy's hand blown off in student protests",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/france-halts-use-of-stun-grenades-after-boys-hand-blown-off-in",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T10:23:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC World",
    "slug": "bbc-world",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqzjx7z2r4gko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The French government has temporarily halted the use of stun grenades in response to a distressing incident during student protests. A 15-year-old boy suffered a severe injury after his hand was blown off, allegedly due to an anti-encirclement grenade fired by police near a high school in Lens, northern France. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez requested a pause in the use of stun grenades until the facts surrounding the incident were clarified. Conflicting accounts emerged from both protesters and officials regarding the circumstances of the explosion.\n\nThe suspension comes amidst widespread concerns over the level of force used by police against students. Over 500 schools were partially or fully closed, resulting in significant disruption. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is scheduled to address the issue in a televised statement. Hundreds of thousands of students and supporters took to the streets on Tuesday, demanding better school conditions, with tear gas and water cannon deployed in some areas.\n\nPolice have made arrests and reported injuries, with 488 individuals arrested and 43 security force members hurt. The Interior Ministry's police watchdog, IGPN, has initiated 18 investigations into whether officers acted appropriately during the demonstrations. Nuñez acknowledged that there are questions within the Ministry of the Interior regarding the conduct of police during these events.\n\nThe incident has reignited debates over the use of non-lethal weapons and the protection of students' rights during protests. President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting with key ministers to address the crisis, which has seen almost a quarter of all secondary schools disrupted. Student unions estimate that over 450,000 students have participated in protests, with plans for further demonstrations in Paris and other cities.",
  "summary": "The step comes after several groups complained of police using disproportionate force towards teenagers.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 12,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "France suspends stun grenades at student protests after teen loses hand",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/france-suspends-stun-grenades-at-student-protests-after-teen-loses",
        "published": "2026-10-07T07:36:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "France suspends stun grenade use at student protests",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/france-suspends-stun-grenade-use-at-student-protests",
        "published": "2026-10-07T07:50:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "‘We’re short of resources’: France’s student protesters, in their own words",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/were-short-of-resources-frances-student-protesters-in-their-own-words",
        "published": "2026-10-07T08:32:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "What is the EF-SON stun grenade France has suspended after it mutilated a high schooler?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/what-is-the-ef-son-stun-grenade-france-has-suspended-after-it",
        "published": "2026-10-07T10:00:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "France suspends stun grenades after student injury",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/france-suspends-stun-grenades-after-student-injury",
        "published": "2026-10-07T10:04:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "France halts use of stun grenades after boy's hand blown off in student protests",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/france-halts-use-of-stun-grenades-after-boys-hand-blown-off-in-12602872",
        "published": "2026-10-07T10:23:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "El Pais English",
        "title": "Student protests in France, in pictures",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/student-protests-in-france-in-pictures",
        "published": "2026-10-07T10:36:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "France halts use of stun grenades after boy’s hand blown off in student protests",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/france-halts-use-of-stun-grenades-after-boys-hand-blown-off-in-12612050",
        "published": "2026-10-07T11:04:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "CNA Explains: What are the grievances driving the expanding school protests in France?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/cna-explains-what-are-the-grievances-driving-the-expanding-school",
        "published": "2026-10-07T11:34:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "France suspends use of stun grenades against protesters",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/france-suspends-use-of-stun-grenades-against-protesters",
        "published": "2026-10-07T12:12:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "France suspends stun grenade use at student protests",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/france-suspends-stun-grenade-use-at-student-protests-12628141",
        "published": "2026-10-07T12:28:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}