Boy, 15, has hand blown off by stun grenade during France school protests

Students burn garbage as they protest to demand more resources, in Lille, France, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.

A teenager is said to have lost his hand after a stun grenade went off during the French school protests.

The 15-year-old is believed to have picked up a stun grenade thrown by the riot police during fresh protests in Lens, Pas-de-Calais, northern France, this morning.

But the device detonated in his hand, causing serious injuries in front of a school.

Up to 250 young people had gathered near the Auguste-Béhal school in the city.

The teenager, believed to be a second-year high school pupil, picked up the grenade before it exploded in his left hand, tearing it off, according to Horizon Actu.

A student puts trashes into a fire as protesting students carry out blockading action near place de la Nation, in Paris, on October 2, 2026.

Sign up for all of the latest stories

Start your day informed with Metro's newsletter or get alerts the moment it happens.

French national police in anti-riot gear detain a protester as students carry out a blocking protest at the Cesar Baggio secondary school during a day of nationwide public sector strikes and demonstrations, in Lille, on September 29, 2026.

He was taken to a hospital in Lille some 24 miles north of the protest. He is not believed to be in life-threatening condition.

Public prosecutor Étienne Thieffry was unable to confirm at this stage whether the student picked up the grenade or whether it was thrown at him.

The French police watchdog, IGPN, has launched an investigation, including whether the criteria for using the type of grenade were met, Le Parisien reports.

A high school student throws a tear gas canister as he protests to demand more resources for schools, in Lille, France, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026.

All teaching at the school was switched to remote lessons following the incident, and the school set up a support service for students.

Demonstrations are raging across France after teenagers took to the streets to protest against conditions, especially during the record-breaking heatwaves.

Students have also complained about a high rate of absent teachers.

Around 400 schools were closed today as a precaution after dozens of schools were ransacked and burned.

Shocking social media footage showed some teachers being assaulted as they tried to leave schools amid the protests.

The education minister, Edouard Geffray, accused of unrelated activists of ‘infiltrating’ the student mass movement.

School protests have spread to Belgium, with marches and blockades reported in Liege, Charleroi and Mons today.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, .

MORE: Firefighter is engulfed in flames as France rocked by school protests

MORE: Shocking moment woman is attacked with makeshift flamethrower during France riots

MORE: Manhunt after British pensioner found dead with ‘violent’ head injuries

Original source Boy, 15, has hand blown off by stun grenade during France school protests

Back to home