Injuries from 'less lethal' weapons at student protests in Paris put French policing under scrutiny

A Reuters investigation documents 28 cases of injuries from police force during student protests in France, including a 14-year-old with a broken jaw from a tear gas canister and a 15-year-old whose hand was blown off by a stun grenade. The IGPN internal police watchdog is investigating 24 cases. Calls to ban rubber bullets and grenade launchers have intensified, with rights groups and politicians arguing the weapons are disproportionate and dangerous. The protests, driven by anger over overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages, have lasted over two weeks, with 700 police officers injured and 6,877 arrests.

A Reuters investigation has documented 28 cases of injuries resulting from police force during ongoing student protests in France, with 15 of those cases under investigation by the IGPN internal police watchdog. The protests, which have lasted over two weeks, are driven by anger over overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, and dilapidated school buildings. Among the most severe injuries: a 14-year-old, Eden, suffered a broken jaw and multiple smashed teeth after being struck by a tear gas canister fired at close range by an officer; a 15-year-old in Lens had his hand blown off, likely by a stun grenade, prompting Interior Minister Laurent Nunez to pause the use of stun grenades pending an investigation. In another case, a 16-year-old student in Argenteuil was shot in the eye by police, with potential permanent damage. Authorities report 700 police officers injured, schools burned or ransacked, and 6,877 arrests, mostly minors. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu described the demonstrations as the most violent in decades. The police response has renewed calls from rights groups, including Amnesty International, and politicians to ban 'less lethal' weapons such as rubber bullets and grenade launchers, which are not used for public order policing in many other European countries. Police unions argue these weapons are necessary for officer safety and to avoid resorting to lethal force. The report, compiled by Reuters, includes interviews, legal documents, and video evidence.