French teenager suffers severe injury during student protest

A 15-year-old student in Lens, France, sustained a life-altering injury, resulting in the loss of his hand after being struck by a police stun grenade. The incident occurred during a student protest held outside the boy's school on October 7, 2026. While the boy's father was present at the start of the demonstration to ensure his son's safety, the situation escalated, leading to the injury.

The victim's mother has publicly rejected reports suggesting that her son had picked up the device from the ground, describing such claims as false. She expressed profound anger and grief, stating that her son remains in shock and is struggling to comprehend the permanence of his injury. The family has announced their intention to file a lawsuit against the authorities regarding the use of such crowd control tactics against minors.

The General Inspectorate of the French Police has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Authorities are currently examining the events to determine liability for the severe injuries caused by the security forces during the crowd control operation.