A teenager sustained a severe injury resulting in the loss of his hand during clashes between police and demonstrators at a school in Lens, located in northern France, according to regional officials. The prefect of Pas-de-Calais confirmed the incident occurred on Monday morning and stated the student’s life was not in immediate danger. The teenager was promptly transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
Circumstances surrounding the injury remain disputed. One account, attributed to a police union source and reported by AFP, suggested the student picked up a sting-ball grenade deployed by riot police, which subsequently detonated in his hand. However, an eyewitness quoted by local media contradicted this account, stating the teenager did not retrieve or catch the device. The mayor of Lens acknowledged the need for clarification, noting he had viewed video footage of the aftermath but could not determine the precise sequence of events. A regional prosecutor announced an investigation would be conducted by France’s police oversight body to establish what transpired.
The incident occurred outside Auguste Béhal high school, where a larger than usual gathering of student demonstrators had assembled. Officials reported that protesters initially threw projectiles including stones and fireworks at local police officers before riot police were deployed to restore order. The school subsequently announced a transition to remote learning and established support services for the school community.
This incident represents one of several serious injuries sustained during the ongoing wave of student protests. Earlier in the week, another 14-year-old student sustained significant facial injuries reportedly from a tear gas grenade. Education authorities have documented at least 190 student injuries since the demonstrations began. The protests, which commenced in late September, have expanded nationwide with students demanding improved school facilities, additional staff, and smaller class sizes. More than 5,000 individuals have been arrested, with approximately 85% being minors. Further demonstrations are anticipated in coming days as student organizations maintain calls for action.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI