Interior Minister Laurent Nunez paused police use of stun grenades at high-school protests until the Lens case is clarified, as more than 500 schools stayed shut.
France has suspended police use of stun grenades at student protests after a 15-year-old lost a hand in Lens, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Wednesday. He told RTL radio the pause would hold until the facts of Monday's incident near the Auguste Behal high school were clarified.
Accounts conflict. Authorities have said the teenager picked up an anti-encirclement grenade that then exploded. Students have alleged he was hit after an officer fired. The local prefect said police faced a group of 200 to 250 students throwing stones and fireworks, the BBC reported.
The interior ministry said 488 people were arrested on Tuesday and 43 security-force members were hurt, as hundreds of thousands marched for better school conditions. Nunez said the police watchdog IGPN had opened 18 inquiries into whether officers were proportionate. A separate officer has been charged after a 14-year-old was hit in the face with a tear-gas grenade near Paris.
More than 500 of about 2,500 lycees were fully or partly closed on Wednesday. President Emmanuel Macron met Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and other ministers late on Tuesday. Lecornu is due to address the protests and public finances on Wednesday evening, his office said.
Student unions put Tuesday's turnout at 450,000 against a government figure above 250,000, and said a fourth day of action is planned for Thursday. The head of the USL union, Ryad Rani, told radio that Nunez should call for restraint.
People Sentiments Negative
- Nunez said the Lens police action raises questions for the interior ministry.
- Ryad Rani of the USL union told radio to calm officers and call for restraint.
- Students allege the Lens teenager was hit directly; officials say he picked up the grenade.