French police accused over severe injuries to teenagers at school protests

French lawyers and rights groups have accused police of causing severe injuries to teenagers during school protests. Since mid-September, 6,773 people under 18 have been taken into police custody, the justice ministry said.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told the Senate that police were investigating 36 allegations of violence against demonstrators. The cases include four children allegedly mutilated by explosive weapons and six reported cases of significant injury.

Injuries linked to police weapons

Evan, 15, lost his left hand in the explosion of a police stun grenade outside a school in Lens, northern France, on 5 October. His lawyer, Bertrand Wattez, said the teenager had not taken part in violence; his family has filed a criminal complaint. The Béthune prosecutor’s office says the grenade had been picked up from the ground, a claim Wattez disputes.

Eden, 14, suffered extensive facial injuries near a blockaded school in Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône, including jaw fractures and lost teeth. His lawyer, Elsa Marcel, said a grenade-launcher round was fired from 1.5 metres away. An officer has been suspended and placed under investigation, while the family has filed a complaint alleging attempted murder.

This week, a police officer in Tours was charged with aggravated battery after Maël, 16, allegedly lost the use of one eye following a shot from a rubber-bullet launcher. The officer denies the charges.

Thousands of children detained

More than 1,000 of the 6,773 minors were not charged. Another 2,190 face legal action, while almost 2,000 received alternatives such as citizenship courses without a trial or conviction.

Lawyers report that teenagers have described being beaten, humiliated and subjected to racist, sexist or homophobic insults, as well as sexual touching during arrests. The justice and interior ministries did not comment on the allegations.

Authorities suspend grenade use

Nuñez denied excessive policing or repression in parliament and suspended the use of stun grenades at school demonstrations. Audrey Bailleul of the Union Syndicale des Magistrats said the facts remained difficult to assess and that there was no evidence of a deliberate mass refusal to follow legal procedure.