Politics · France · 1 day ago
Debate grows in France over police use of LBD launchers at student protests
Police use of LBD launchers has come under renewed scrutiny during student protests in France.
Two young people were seriously injured in the eye in incidents in Tours and Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône.
The police oversight body has opened 24 investigations, and an online petition calling for the weapons to be banned is nearing 100,000 signatures.
Catherine Tricot, head of the magazine Regards, argued that the launchers should be abolished and said their use has harmed protesters.
Jean-Sébastien Ferjou, who runs the website Atlantico, said the weapons can be needed to respond to dangerous crowds, but their use must be proportionate.
The disagreement reflects a wider debate over the risks of these weapons and how police are trained to use them.
The sources do not say what action the government will take next.
France is debating whether police should continue using LBD launchers during student protests.
The debate follows reports that two young people were seriously injured in the eye in Tours and Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône.
Twenty-four investigations have been opened by the police watchdog, the IGPN.
Catherine Tricot called for the launchers to be abolished, while Jean-Sébastien Ferjou argued that their use, rather than their existence, should be the focus.
An online petition calling for abolition, backed by Attac and relayed by several MPs, was nearing 100,000 signatures.
- Who
- Catherine Tricot and Jean-Sébastien Ferjou debated the issue on franceinfo.
- What
- The debate concerns police use of LBD launchers and whether they should be abolished.
- When
- Saturday, 10 October 2026.
- Where
- France; the discussion took place on franceinfo.
- Why
- Two young people were seriously injured in the eye in Tours and Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône, prompting renewed scrutiny of the launchers.
Catherine Tricot
Jean-Sébastien Ferjou
Whether to abolish LBDs
Catherine Tricot
They should be abolished. Tricot said the weapons have caused serious injuries and that France should respect the right to protest.
Jean-Sébastien Ferjou
They should not be banned. Ferjou said they can be used to confront dangerous crowds and argued that proportionality is the main issue.
Use of the weapons
Catherine Tricot
Tricot said LBDs have been used extensively since 2016 as part of a strategy to counter protesters.
Jean-Sébastien Ferjou
Ferjou said the issue is how the weapons are used and whether officers are properly trained.
The LBD 40s are classified as weapons of war under the official classification.
The issue is use and training.
These are intermediate weapons that are non-lethal.
Tricot said a change in protest policing began with the reform of the Labour Law.
Tricot and Ferjou debated the use of LBD launchers on franceinfo.
- Injuries
- Two young people were seriously injured in the eye in Tours and Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône
- Investigations
- 24 investigations opened by the IGPN
- Petition
- Nearly 100,000 signatures
- Debate participants
- Catherine Tricot and Jean-Sébastien Ferjou
- Broadcast date
- 10 October 2026
Sources
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