Teen’s Hand Blown Off in French School Protest

Mon Oct 05 2026 15:29:50 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A 15‑year‑old in Lens lost a hand during protests near a high school, after a stun grenade went off, amid nationwide student clashes with police.

In the north‑eastern French city of Lens, a 15‑year‑old student was seriously injured when a stun grenade exploded near a protest outside Auguste Béhal high school, resulting in the loss of his hand. The incident is part of a broader wave of school protests across France, where students have closed schools to demand better facilities and more teachers. Police were already on the scene after students threw stones and firework‑like projectiles at officers. Authorities say the boy’s life is not in danger and he has been transferred to a nearby hospital. An investigation by the national police watchdog is underway to clarify how the grenade was deployed.

A 15‑year‑old boy in Lens, France, lost his hand when a stun grenade exploded during a protest near a high school. The prefect of Pas‑de‑Calais said the incident was “very serious,” but the student’s life is not in danger.

The event happened on Monday morning, amid nationwide student demonstrations over school building conditions and teacher shortages. Roughly 500 schools were partially or fully closed across the country on that day.

Local media reported that the boy had picked up a police stun grenade, but officials have not released concrete details. A regional prosecutor will investigate the incident with the General Inspection of the National Police (IGPN).

The prefect noted that a large crowd had gathered outside the Auguste Béhal high school. Earlier, students had launched stones, fireworks and even mortar‑like projectiles at police. The police responded with riot squads to maintain order.

The school announced that it would switch to distance learning for the rest of the day and set up a support unit for students and staff.

What’s happening? Students across France are striking over poor facilities and understaffing. The protests have grown intense, and in some places the police have used stun grenades, leading to injuries.

What’s next? Investigations will determine how the grenade went off and whether any policy changes are needed to protect students during protests.