A 15‑year‑old boy’s hand was blown off during a confrontation between police and demonstrators near a school in Lens, France.
The “very serious incident” took place on Monday morning, according to François‑Xavier Lauch, the prefect of Pas‑de‑Calais, who added that the teenager was quickly transferred to a nearby hospital and his life is not in danger.
The unrest comes amid a wave of student protests across the country, with about 500 schools partially or fully closed on Monday over disputes about school conditions and staffing levels. The protests have escalated into clashes with police in several regions.
Media reports vary on how the boy sustained the injury. Le Voix Du Nord reported that he lost his hand after picking up a police stun grenade, but officials have withheld specific details.
A regional prosecutor announced that an investigation would be undertaken by the General Inspection of the National Police (IGPN) to uncover the full facts surrounding the incident.
The prefect said the incident happened close to Auguste Béhal high school, where a larger gathering of students than usual had assembled outside the school. He described the morning as one in which students threw various projectiles—stones, fireworks, and mortars—at the local police officers, prompting the deployment of riot police.
In response, the affected school has moved to distance learning for the remainder of the day, and a support unit has been set up to assist everyone involved.
