{
  "id": 12602872,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T10:23:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC News",
    "slug": "bbc-news",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqzjx7z2r4gko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "France has halted the use of stun grenades in the wake of a shocking incident involving a 15-year-old student whose hand was blown off during recent student protests. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez requested the suspension until the facts surrounding the incident in Lens were clarified. Several protesters and officials have offered conflicting accounts of the events leading up to the boy's injury.\n\nThe protests, which began in mid-September, have seen over 500 schools shut, and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is set to address the issue in an evening speech. Tear gas and water cannons were deployed by security forces, resulting in hundreds of arrests and injuries to both civilians and law enforcement. The interior ministry reported 488 arrests and 43 hurt security force members.\n\nNuñez announced that 18 investigations were underway to determine whether the officers involved used disproportionate force during the demonstrations. The boy who lost his hand claims he picked up the anti-encirclement grenade, which subsequently exploded. However, students allege he was targeted directly after an officer fired. The incident occurred near Auguste Béhal high school in Lens, near Lille.\n\nThe government has been criticized for its handling of the protests, with concerns raised about the use of non-lethal weapons and the force exerted against students. President Emmanuel Macron called an emergency meeting to address the crisis, which has affected nearly a quarter of all lycées. Students' unions anticipate a fourth round of protests on Thursday.",
  "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 World",
        "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",
        "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."
}