Teenager's hand blown off during confrontation between France school protesters and riot police
A 15-year-old boy's hand was severely injured during a confrontation between student protesters and riot police in Lens, France, amidst ongoing school protests over building conditions and staffing. Conflicting accounts exist regarding the cause of the injury, with some reports suggesting he picked up a police-fired sting-ball grenade, while others dispute this. An investigation by the French police watchdog is underway.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the escalating tensions and potential for severe injury during public protests, raising concerns about police tactics, youth safety, and the right to protest in France. It also underscores the social unrest related to education conditions.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Ben Hatton and Tinshui Yeung Getty Images French school protests have led to clashes between police and students in recent days. File photo of police at a protest last week A 15-year-old boy's hand was blown off during a confrontation between police and demonstrators near a school in France, an official has said, as student protests continue across the country.
The "very serious incident" happened in the northern city of Lens on Monday morning, according to the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, François-Xavier Lauch.
"The student's life is not in danger," he said, adding that the teenager was transferred "very quickly" to a hospital nearby.
Around 500 schools were partially or totally closed across the country on Monday amid student protests over the condition of school buildings and staffing which have led to clashes with police in recent days.
Also covering this story
8 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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