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Teenager's hand blown off during confrontation between France school protesters and riot police
BBC • • general
Key Points:
- A 15-year-old boy lost his hand during a confrontation between police and student demonstrators near a school in Lens, France, amid ongoing nationwide student protests over school conditions and staffing.
- The incident, described as "very serious," occurred on Monday morning, with the teenager quickly transferred to a nearby hospital and his life not in danger, according to local officials.
- Conflicting reports exist about how the injury happened; police sources suggest the boy picked up a sting-ball grenade that exploded, while witnesses deny this claim, prompting an official investigation by the police watchdog IGPN.
- The protests have led to around 500 schools closing partially or fully, and the affected school has switched to distance learning and established a support unit for the community's safety and well-being.
- This incident follows another recent injury last week when a 14-year-old student was reportedly hit in the head by a tear gas grenade during protests in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône.
