15-Year-Old Loses Hand as France School Protests Continue, 589 Schools Disruptedd

 A wave of high school protests across France has continued to disrupt education, with hundreds of schools affected and tensions rising after a 15-year-old student suffered a devastating hand injury in the northern city of Lens.

 

French authorities said the teenager was seriously injured on Monday near the Auguste Béhal high school in Lens, where students had gathered as part of the nationwide demonstrations.

 

The student lost one hand after a grenade exploded during the protest. He was taken to a hospital in Lille for emergency treatment, and authorities said his life was not in danger.

 

However, important questions remain about exactly how the incident happened.

 

Local reports said the teenager may have picked up a police grenade that had been used during the confrontation. But the prosecutor in Béthune said investigators had not yet established whether the student actually picked up the grenade or whether the device landed near him and then exploded.

 

An official investigation has been opened, and France's police oversight body, the IGPN, has been involved in examining the circumstances.

 

The Lens incident comes as student protests continue across France.

 

On Monday, France's education minister said 589 schools and educational establishments had been disrupted by protests. That number was lower than the 735 establishments reported as affected on Friday, but the demonstrations remain widespread.

 

Students have been protesting over a range of education-related concerns, including teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, deteriorating school buildings, long school schedules and pressure surrounding university admissions.

 

The movement began in the Paris region and quickly spread to cities and towns across France.

 

While many students have demonstrated peacefully, some protests have also involved clashes with police, fires, property damage and other acts of violence.

 

French officials have called for a return to normal classes while also acknowledging the students' concerns.

 

Education Minister Edouard Geffray said the government wants schools to gradually resume normal operations, while a new day of demonstrations is expected on Tuesday.

 

The serious injuries suffered by several teenagers during the protests have also intensified debate over police tactics and the safety of young protesters.

 

Authorities say investigations are necessary to establish what happened in each individual case.

 

For now, the Lens investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not reached a final conclusion about the precise circumstances that caused the teenager's hand injury.

 

As protests continue, the French government faces growing pressure to address concerns over school conditions while maintaining public safety.

 

This is News 12 Channel.

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