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

Bins were set on fire in Lille on Thursday as the school protests swept through France (Picture: AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) 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.

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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.

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.

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