World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
Teenager injured by grenade at Lens school blockade files criminal complaint
A 15-year-old student in Lens has filed a criminal complaint after a grenade exploded during a blockade at his school on October 5.
His lawyer says the blast amputated his left hand and injured his right hand and other parts of his body; he remains in hospital in Lille.
The teenager’s lawyer says he went to school for classes and picked up pieces of pyrotechnic devices to show his mother he had been there.
The boy denies picking up the grenade that exploded.
The prosecutor says initial evidence indicates police fired the grenade from about 80 metres, it landed on the ground and a protester picked it up before it exploded; investigators have no video of the blast.
The complaint alleges intentional violence causing permanent disability and allows an investigating judge to open a judicial inquiry.
The IGPN is investigating the incident, and the teenager was questioned from his hospital bed.
Evan, a 15-year-old student injured by a stun grenade during a school blockade in Lens, has filed a criminal complaint.
His lawyer said the complaint alleges intentional violence resulting in permanent disability.
Evan lost his left hand, and his right hand and other parts of his body were also injured.
The complaint was announced on 14 October, nine days after the incident.
The prosecutor said initial evidence indicated the grenade was fired according to rules, while Evan and his lawyer dispute the account that he picked it up.
- Who
- Evan, a 15-year-old student, filed the complaint through his lawyer, Bertrand Wattez.
- What
- The complaint alleges intentional violence resulting in permanent disability.
- When
- It was announced on 14 October 2026. Evan was injured on 5 October.
- Where
- At the Behal high school blockade in Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France.
- Why
- His lawyer said the complaint seeks an impartial investigation into how Evan was injured.
Evan and his lawyer
Béthune prosecutor
Account of the grenade
Evan and his lawyer
Evan formally denied picking up the grenade; his lawyer said the explosion occurred to Evan’s left.
Béthune prosecutor
The prosecutor said witness accounts, except one, indicated the grenade landed on the ground and a protester picked it up before it exploded.
Police action
Evan and his lawyer
The lawyer challenged the police account and called for a calm and impartial investigation.
Béthune prosecutor
The prosecutor said initial evidence indicated the grenade was fired in accordance with prescribed procedures.
Evan was injured by a grenade during the blockade of Behal high school in Lens.
Evan was questioned at length by the IGPN while in hospital in Lille.
His lawyer announced that Evan had filed a criminal complaint.
- Age
- 15
- Incident date
- 5 October 2026
- Location
- Behal high school, Lens
- Injury
- Evan lost his left hand
- Complaint
- Intentional violence resulting in permanent disability
4 sources
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What people are saying
We are told that this young boy is responsible for his own amputation, even though the investigation has only just begun.
We want to know the truth and why a child sees his dreams collapse because a grenade was thrown.