French police grenade blast tears off student's hand in Lens

A 15-year-old high school student had his hand torn off by a grenade explosion during a protest in Lens, France, on Monday morning, according to the Pas-de-Calais prefect. The incident occurred after the teenager picked up a grenade, a police source said, though a police union source claimed it was a disencirclement grenade thrown by riot police and the student tried to throw it back. A witness contradicted this version, and authorities said they could not immediately confirm the circumstances. The prosecutor has tasked the police inspectorate with investigating the incident. The student's life is not in danger and he was transferred to a hospital in Lille. His school has switched to remote learning and opened a support unit.