On Wednesday, Oct. 7, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced on RTL that he was suspending the use of stun grenades for the high school movement, “until light has been shed” on what happened in Lens on Monday. A 15-year-old student had his hand torn off there, outside the Auguste-Béhal high school. The mayor of Wingles says he had his left hand amputated and received a graft. The director general of the national police had already suspended, as a precaution, the grenade model potentially involved. According to the minister, the IGPN has been handed eighteen investigations into injuries that occurred during the movement. His toll shows 6,547 arrests since the start, including 488 on Tuesday alone, and more than 700 police officers and gendarmes injured. The exact circumstances of the explosion remain to be established: whether the grenade was picked up or thrown at the young man. Meanwhile, student and university organizations are asking to be received by Sébastien Lecornu, whose first decisions will be presented “at the end of the month.” The main union of school heads rejects the proposed “time for democracy.”
The mutilation of a teenager is not handled like an ordinary protest incident. Suspending a weapon, even partially, shows that policing has become a central issue, alongside the demands over schools. It may also split the majority between firmness and appeasement.
For families, the immediate issue is the resumption of classes, which varies from one school to another. If your child takes part in a blockade, be aware that arrests are frequent and that minors can be placed in police custody.
The suspension is an expected response: a weapon whose use has already caused mutilations has no place against minors. The IGPN investigations must be seen through to the end.
Law enforcement faces projectiles, mortars and fires, with more than 700 injured in its ranks. Taking away means of defense weakens its ability to protect the schools.
Watch three dates: the possible reception of the student organizations at Matignon, the IGPN’s conclusions on Lens, and the end of October, the deadline for the costed decisions. A suspension “until light has been shed” is temporary by nature. If the investigation concludes quickly, it could be lifted.
Le Monde (grenades, 18 IGPN investigations, government on the defensive, decisions “at the end of the month”) · Les Échos (suspension, Lecornu announcements) · Le Figaro (explanation on the grenades, school heads, magistrates) · franceinfo (persistent anger, Liège) · 24heures and Horizon Actu (minister’s remarks, toll of 6,547 arrests) · mayor of Wingles (amputation, single source) · circumstances of the explosion not established
After a hand was torn off in Lens, Nuñez suspends stun grenades for the high school protest movement. Eighteen IGPN investigations are open
The interior minister is acting “until light has been shed.” Student anger persists, and their organizations are asking to be received by Lecornu.
Laurent Nuñez announced on RTL on Wednesday that he was suspending the use of stun grenades “for the high school students’ movement until light has been shed” on the Lens case, where a 15-year-old student lost a hand on Monday. The director general of the national police had already suspended, as a precaution, the grenade model potentially involved. The mayor of Wingles, the young man’s home town, says he had his left hand amputated and received a graft. The IGPN has been handed eighteen investigations into injuries during the movement, the minister said. He cites a toll of 6,547 arrests, including 488 on Tuesday alone, and more than 700 police officers and gendarmes injured.
The suspension does not calm the street. Franceinfo notes that student anger persists despite the dialogue offered by Sébastien Lecornu, whose first decisions will be presented “at the end of the month.” Student and university organizations are asking to be received by the prime minister, as the ministers have announced no concrete measure. The main union of school heads rejects the ministry’s proposed “time for democracy.” The government wants to regain the initiative but remains on the defensive over policing, Le Monde notes. In Liège, Belgium, student gatherings are now banned.