Jaw Fractures and Severed Hand... At Least 190 Injured Amid French Student Protests

Complete or Partial Closure of 500 Schools
Student Protests Spark Nationwide Movement
Over 5,000 Arrested... 85% Are Minors

As student protests over poor educational environments continue to spread across France, a violent clash between police and protesters has resulted in a 15-year-old student losing his hand. With the demonstrations dragging on, at least 190 students have been injured and over 5,000 people have been arrested.

On the 5th (local time), high school students in Montpellier, southern France, held a protest demanding improvements in the educational environment, blocking the school entrance. Photo by EPA

According to BBC and AFP on the 5th (local time), François-Xavier Roche, prefect of Pas-de-Calais, stated that a 15-year-old male student suffered a severe hand amputation in Lens, Pas-de-Calais, northern France, earlier that morning. Describing it as "a very serious incident," he explained, "The student was quickly transported to a nearby hospital and is not in life-threatening condition."

The incident occurred near Auguste Béhal High School. Prefect Roche noted that more students than usual had gathered outside the school, and some protesters had thrown stones and fireworks at the police. In response, the police deployed additional units from the Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité (CRS) to maintain order. The school immediately switched to full remote learning for student safety and set up a counseling and support center on campus after the incident.

Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the circumstances of the accident. AFP, citing a police union official, reported that the student appeared to have picked up a 'sting-ball grenade' fired by riot police, which then exploded in his hand. However, a female student who claimed to have been right next to him told the local newspaper La Voix du Nord, "He neither picked up nor held the grenade."

Sylvain Robert, mayor of Lens, commented, "I have watched the footage since the incident but have not been able to determine how the police and students responded at the time," stressing the need for a thorough investigation. Local prosecutors have entrusted the Independent Police Complaints Authority (IGPN) with the case investigation.

Recently, student protests against inadequate school facilities and a shortage of teachers have been spreading nationwide in France. On Monday alone, around 500 schools were closed in whole or in part. The protests began late last month in Paris. High school students are demanding improvements in teacher and staff shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and outdated facilities. Since last week, university students have also joined the demonstrations.

French high school students are protesting on the 5th (local time) in Paris, demanding improvements in the educational environment. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left party La France Insoumise (LFI), described this protest as "the most powerful youth movement of high school and university students since 1968." In 1968, student protests escalated into a general strike among labor unions, with millions taking to the streets. He also criticized the government for politicizing the situation rather than addressing student demands.

Continued clashes with the police are resulting in more injuries. Minister of Education Édouard Geffray stated that at least 190 students have been injured since the protests began. Last week in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône, a 14-year-old student reportedly suffered two fractured jawbones after being struck in the face by a police tear gas grenade.

The student's mother stated at a press conference, "My child's jaw has been wired shut, so he can only consume liquids through a straw," adding, "Shameful, horrific, violent, and devastating. This should never happen. We are dealing with children who are simply asking for a better environment to study in."

Large-scale arrests are also continuing. According to AFP, the number of people arrested since the protests began has exceeded 5,000, with about 85% of them being minors. However, the French government noted that the scale of the demonstrations has recently decreased somewhat. Minister Geffray reported that as of today, 589 schools experienced disruptions to classes, down from 735 on the 2nd.

The national student organization Union Syndicale Lycéenne (USL) has announced mass protests planned for the 6th. The secondary-school teachers’ union SNES-FSU has also expressed support for the students, urging its members to participate in the protests.

The French government has announced plans to create a "large-scale public consultation platform" to gather feedback from students nationwide and address issues in the education sector. Minister Geffray set the goal of "resolving most problematic situations" by the 16th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.