France student protests have intensified after a 15-year-old boy lost a hand during a confrontation involving demonstrators and police near a school in Lens. The serious incident has renewed scrutiny of crowd-control tactics as students across the country continue demanding safer, better-funded schools.
The teenager was taken to hospital shortly after the incident in the northern city, and the prefect of Pas-de-Calais said his life was not in danger. Authorities have not yet established exactly how the injury occurred.
France student protests lead to major school disruption
The confrontation happened near Auguste Béhal high school on Monday morning, when a larger gathering of students assembled outside the building. Local officials said police faced stones, fireworks and mortar-style projectiles before riot police were deployed.
The school subsequently moved lessons online to protect students and staff. It also established a listening and support service for members of the school community affected by the incident.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray said hundreds of schools had been disrupted. Government figures indicated that 589 institutions were affected on Monday, while authorities had reported 735 disrupted schools the previous Friday. Officials said around 500 schools were partially or completely closed at the height of the disruption.
Investigation launched into teenager’s injury
Reports about the circumstances differ. An AFP report, citing a police union source, said the student may have picked up a sting-ball grenade fired by riot police before it exploded. However, a witness quoted by regional media said the teenager did not pick up the device.
Lens Mayor Sylvain Robert said the available videos showed the aftermath but did not explain how the police operation or the student gathering had unfolded. A formal investigation by the General Inspection of the National Police, known as the IGPN, is expected to examine the incident.
Students demand action on schools and staffing
The protests began in Paris in late September before spreading to other parts of France. High school students have criticised shortages of teachers and support staff, overcrowded classrooms and deteriorating school buildings. University students have since joined the demonstrations with similar concerns.
Authorities say more than 5,000 people have been arrested since the movement began, with minors making up the majority, according to AFP figures cited in reports. The scale of the protests has drawn comparisons with previous major youth-led movements in France.
The government says it will create a national consultation platform where students can report problems in their schools. Geffray has said officials hope to address most urgent issues by 16 October.
Further injuries increase pressure on authorities
The Lens incident follows the serious injury of another student, Eden, aged 14, in Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône last week. The teenager was reportedly struck in the head by a tear gas grenade and suffered a double jaw fracture requiring major surgery, according to his lawyer.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has announced an investigation into that case. The student’s mother has publicly criticised the violence and called for young people seeking better education conditions to be protected.
More protests expected across France
Student organisation Union Syndicale Lycéenne has called for further demonstrations on Tuesday. The teachers’ union SNES-FSU has also expressed support for the action and encouraged members to participate.
Officials say the number of disrupted schools fell on Monday compared with previous days, but continued protests could create further closures, transport disruption and pressure on the government to respond quickly.
Read more: Ireland and international news
Explore more news updates
What happens next?
The immediate focus will be on the injured teenager’s recovery and the IGPN investigation into the Lens confrontation. Authorities must also determine whether police procedures, protest conduct or both contributed to the incident.
With more demonstrations planned and school communities demanding improvements, France faces a difficult balance between maintaining public safety and protecting the right to protest. The central takeaway from the France student protests is clear: concerns about education conditions have become a national issue, but the growing number of injuries has made accountability and restraint equally urgent.
