Archive · 8 Oct 2026
France Suspends Stun Grenades After Teen Loses Hand
Students across France have been protesting because they want better schools, more teachers and less crowded classrooms.
During a protest in Lens, a police stun grenade exploded and badly injured a 15-year-old.
Reports disagree about whether he picked up the grenade before it exploded.
France’s interior minister paused the use of this kind of grenade at high-school protests while officials investigate.
The protests have disrupted classes at hundreds of schools.
Officials say some schools have been badly damaged and teaching staff have been injured.
Some groups say police have used too much force, while the government says police must respond when protests turn violent.
The government is also proposing that people who damage public property pay for repairs.
A 15-year-old was severely injured when a police stun grenade exploded in Lens on Monday, October 5; some reports say he also lost part of his lower arm.
Accounts conflict over whether he picked up the grenade: a police union source and one newspaper report say he appeared to, while his mother and a nearby witness say he did not.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez suspended stun-grenade use at high-school protests pending clarification; officials said 18 police-misconduct investigations had been referred to the inspectorate.
The protests began in September over teacher shortages, overcrowding, missed lessons, underfunding and deteriorating school buildings, and have spread across France.
Reports put school closures at more than 400, or about 400–500; officials also reported 24 schools burned or ransacked and 78 teaching staff injured.
- Who
- A 15-year-old student, police, French government officials and high-school protesters.
- What
- A student was severely injured by a police stun grenade during a protest; the government suspended stun-grenade use at high-school protests pending investigation.
- When
- The injury occurred Monday, October 5, 2026; the suspension was announced Wednesday.
- Where
- Lens and other locations across France.
- Why
- Students are protesting teacher shortages, overcrowding, missed lessons, underfunding and deteriorating school buildings.
Rights groups, unions and protesters
Government and authorities
Police conduct
Rights groups, unions and protesters
Rights groups, unions and protesters have accused police of disproportionate or heavy-handed force against demonstrators, including minors.
Government and authorities
The government says police must restore order when protests involve violence or vandalism; Nuñez described police conduct as proportionate in almost all cases while suspending stun-grenade use pending clarification.
What is driving the unrest
Rights groups, unions and protesters
Students say they are protesting poor school conditions, including teacher shortages, overcrowding, missed lessons, underfunding and deteriorating buildings. France Unbowed denies encouraging violence and accuses the government of politicising the issue.
Government and authorities
The government says the protests have been hijacked by hard-left activists and says restoring order is a priority.
Who should pay for property damage
Rights groups, unions and protesters
CGT leader Sophie Binet criticized the proposed financial-liability bill as populist and warned it could target vulnerable families.
Government and authorities
The government says those responsible for damaging public property should pay for repairs; Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said payments could be recovered from family allowances and housing benefits while preserving a minimum income threshold.
- Injury
- The 15-year-old lost his hand; some reports say part of his lower arm was also lost.
- Grenade model
- One report identifies the grenade as the EF-SON, manufactured by French company Alsetex.
- Suspension
- Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez paused stun-grenade use at high-school protests until the Lens incident is clarified.
- Investigations
- Officials said 18 investigations into alleged police conduct had been referred to the police inspectorate.
- School closures
- Reports said more than 400 schools were partly or fully closed; estimates ranged from about 400 to 500 of 3,700 high schools.
- Reported damage
- Education Minister Édouard Geffray said 24 schools had been burned or ransacked and 78 teaching staff injured.
- Arrests
- Reports gave totals ranging from about 5,000 to more than 6,500 arrests during the protests.
- Proposed liability
- The government plans legislation making people responsible for property damage, or potentially their parents, financially liable for repairs.
Sources
15-Year-Old Picks Up Grenade During French Protest, Has Hand Blown Off
France suspends stun grenade use at student protests after 15-year-old loses hand in clash
Teens maimed, thousands arrested as French police face scrutiny over school protests
French teenager loses hand during school protest amid nationwide unrest over conditions
Teen Loses Hand in Grenade Blast as France School Protests Turn Violent
Teenager’s hand blown off as French school protests enter third week