France suspended the use of stun grenades during student protests after a 15-year-old lost a hand in an incident near Lens, as over 250,000 people marched across the country. The suspension comes as tensions rise over police force and school conditions.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez suspended the use of stun grenades after a 15-year-old's hand was blown off in an incident near Lens, where police fired a stun grenade in unclear circumstances. The suspension is limited to the high school student protests and is pending further investigation.
The suspension follows allegations of police brutality and disproportionate force, with 488 people arrested and 43 officers injured during the protests. The government has opened 18 investigations into police conduct, as the protests continue with over 500 schools partially closed.
The government has faced criticism for the handling of the protests, with some accusing it of stoking tensions. The suspension of stun grenades is seen as a response to the incidents involving minors, though concerns remain about the potential for further clashes and injuries.