Boy, 15, loses hand during school protest in northern France

A 15-year-old pupil lost a hand during a protest near his school in Lens, northern France, on Monday 5 October, French authorities told AFP. Pas-de-Calais prefect François-Xavier Lauch said the boy was quickly taken to hospital in Lille and his life was not in danger. [4]

An initial account attributed by AFP to a police-union source said the pupil had picked up a police grenade that exploded in his hand. But Béthune prosecutor Étienne Thieffry said he could not yet determine whether the pupil had picked up the device or it had landed on him. He said identifying the type of grenade used was part of the investigation. [4] [5]

Thieffry said he had referred the case to France’s police inspectorate, the IGPN, to establish the sequence of events. The inquiry concerns suspected violence resulting in mutilation or permanent disability; the referral does not establish that an offence was committed. [4]