Police grenade costs French teen his hand in Lens protest

A police grenade explosion in Lens, northern France, on Monday left a 15-year-old student with his left hand and part of his forearm amputated during protests over public high school conditions. The boy was urgently transferred to a hospital in Lille. Police claim the teenager picked up the grenade to throw it back at officers, while witnesses say he was hit directly by the projectile. The prosecutor confirmed an investigation has been opened, stating it is currently impossible to determine which version is accurate. The school suspended in-person classes and set up psychological support. The incident is the most serious in a nationwide protest wave that began on September 17, with over 400 high schools partially or fully closed and more than 5,000 people detained. The Human Rights League has accused police of disproportionate methods against minors, while the government announced measures to fill teacher vacancies and hold regional meetings.