Key facts
- Teenagers have reportedly suffered severe injuries, described as 'war-like', from police weapons during French school protests.
- Internal investigations are underway into 36 allegations of police violence against demonstrators, including severe injuries to children.
- A 15-year-old lost a hand and suffered other injuries from a police stun grenade on October 5.
- A 14-year-old sustained extensive facial injuries from a grenade launcher shot.
- A police officer was charged with aggravated battery after a 16-year-old allegedly lost an eye from a rubber-bullet launcher.
- Over 6,700 minors were taken into police custody, with many facing no charges.
French police are facing accusations of inflicting severe, "war-like" injuries on teenagers during recent school protests, with lawyers and rights groups detailing incidents of severe maiming and abuse. Students have been protesting for weeks over issues including absent teachers and dilapidated school buildings. The interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, informed the senate that internal investigations have been launched into 36 allegations of police violence, including severe injuries to children from explosive weapons and other complaints of blows, insults, and alleged sexual assault. A 15-year-old boy lost a hand and suffered other injuries from a police stun grenade on October 5, while a 14-year-old sustained extensive facial injuries from a grenade launcher. In a separate incident, a police officer was charged with aggravated battery after a 16-year-old allegedly lost an eye from a rubber-bullet launcher. Lawyers also expressed concern over an "unprecedented" number of child arrests, with some teenagers reporting humiliation, violence, and racist insults during custody, and many cases resulting in no charges. The government has denied excessive policing and suspended the use of stun grenades at school demonstrations.