Brief
French police use stun grenades and tear gas on high‑school protesters
HRW says over 6,800 arrests, mostly minors, and serious injuries including a lost hand and shattered jaw.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Human Rights Watch said French riot police have responded to high‑school protests with tear gas, stun grenades, batons, rubber bullets and forceful restraint, injuring dozens of children.
The protests, which began on 21 September over under‑investment in education, have seen more than 6,800 people detained, about 86 % of them minors. A 15‑year‑old lost a hand when a stun grenade exploded, and a 14‑year‑old suffered a shattered jaw from a tear‑gas canister fired at close range.
Authorities announced a temporary suspension of stun grenades and opened 36 internal investigations into alleged police misconduct, though HRW notes that internal reviews rarely lead to accountability.
Key facts
- Police used tear gas, stun grenades, batons and rubber bullets on student protesters (hrw.org)
- More than 6,800 people have been detained, about 86% of them children (hrw.org)
- A 15‑year‑old lost a hand after a stun grenade exploded (hrw.org)
- A 14‑year‑old's jaw was shattered by a tear‑gas canister (hrw.org)
- The government announced a temporary suspension of stun grenades and opened 36 internal investigations (hrw.org)
Sources
- [1] hrw.org — originally reported as “French High School Student Protests Met with Excessive Force”
