Teenager's hand blown off during confrontation between France school protesters and police
BBC News 2026-10-05 16:32:18
Context: A 15-year-old boy's hand was blown off during a confrontation between police and student protesters near a school in Lens, a northern city in France, on Monday morning. The incident occurred amid ongoing student protests across the country over school conditions and staffing, which have led to clashes with police. The protests, that began in late September, have resulted in over 5,000 arrests, mostly minors.
Key Facts
- A 15-year-old boy's hand was blown off during a confrontation between police and demonstrators near the Auguste Béhal high school in Lens, France, on Monday morning.
- Around 500 schools were partially or totally closed across France on Monday due to student protests over school conditions and staffing.
- At least 190 students have been injured since the protests began, including Eden, 14, who suffered a double jaw fracture after being struck by a tear gas grenade in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône.
- Over 5,000 people, mostly minors, have been arrested since the start of the movement, according to AFP.