France teen protester has hand blown off by police grenade
A 15-year-old student had his hand blown off on Monday during a protest in France, authorities said, as demonstrations for better teaching conditions continue at hundreds of schools nationwide.
The 15-year-old boy was rushed to hospital in the town of Lens, northern France, on Monday morning as protests at French lycées (high schools) continue.
A police union source said the student appeared to have picked up a sting-ball grenade fired by riot police, hoping to fling it back, but the device exploded in his hand – however the local prosecutor said it was not yet clear whether the teenager had tried to pick up the grenade or whether it had simply hit him.
The injury comes after a 16-year-old boy in Tours lost an eye after being hit in the face by a rubber bullet during protests on Friday.
Students at lycées across France have been staging protests over the last week calling for more resources for schools.
READ ALSO: Explained: What are French students protesting about?
Violence has flared at some of the demos, with schools vandalised, fires started and teachers or support staff attacked.
But the police are also coming under increasing criticism for their heavy-handed policing of the demos, using tear gas, rubber bullets and ‘flash’ grenades against the protesters, most of whom are aged between 15 and 18.
The use of flash grenades by police is a long-standing controversy in France and the injuries suffered by the children recall those seen during the “yellow vest’ protests of 2018 when around a dozen people lost eyes or hands from police weapons.
The lycée protests are due to continue this week, with Tuesday declared ‘act three’ of the protests, and unions calling for strike action in the support of the teenage protesters.
READ ALSO: Strikes and demos: What to expect from Tuesday’s ‘act 3’ of student protests in France
