Teenager loses hand after picking up police grenade during French school protests

A 15-year-old student lost a hand picking up a police grenade during nationwide protests in France over school conditions, officials said Monday. The incident occurred in the northern town of Lens, and an investigation has been opened. The teenager appeared to have picked up a sting-ball grenade fired by riot police, which exploded in his hand, according to a police union source. Protests began in late September over teacher shortages and have since spread, with 24 schools burned or ransacked and 78 teaching staff injured. A national day of demonstrations is expected Tuesday, with security officials fearing further violence in central Paris. Around 5,000 people, mostly teenagers, have been arrested since last Monday, and property damage is estimated in the tens of millions of euros.