In brief
A 15‑year‑old boy suffered a severe injury when his hand was blown off during a clash between riot police and students outside a school in Lens. The prefect of Pas‑de‑Calais, François‑Xavier Lauch, confirmed the incident and said the boy was quickly transported to a hospital nearby. The tragedy unfolded against a backdrop of student protests over school conditions, which saw around 500 schools partially or fully closed that Monday. While initial reports suggest the boy may have been handling a stun grenade, investigators are yet to confirm the exact circumstances. The incident has heightened tensions and the French police watchdog has launched an investigation to shed light on the events.
A 15‑year‑old boy’s hand was blown off during a confrontation between police and demonstrators near a school in Lens, France, officials reported.
The prefect of Pas‑de‑Calais, François‑Xavier Lauch, described the incident as a “very serious one” and said the boy’s life was not in danger, noting he was rapidly transferred to a nearby hospital.
The tragedy occurred on Monday morning, a day that saw roughly 500 schools across the country partially or wholly closed in response to student protests over campus conditions and staffing shortages.
La Voix Du Nord reported that the boy had lost his hand while picking up a police stun grenade, though official details remain unclear.
A regional prosecutor confirmed that the General Inspection of the National Police (IGPN) would investigate the event, promising transparency.
The confrontation unfolded near the Auguste Béhal high school, where a larger gathering of students than usual had assembled. The prefect said students had thrown stones, fireworks and mortars at the police, prompting a deployment of CRS riot police.
In response to that morning’s events, the school issued a statement suspending campus activities and switching to distance learning, while setting up a support unit to aid affected students and staff.
