Teenager loses hand after picking up police grenade in Lens school protest

A teenager's hand was blown off during clashes between high-school protesters and riot police in northern France on Monday, as school demonstrations entered their third week. The 15-year-old lost his hand and part of his lower arm after picking up a police stun grenade in Lens. The regional newspaper La Voix du Nord reported the injury, while the prefect of Pas-de-Calais declined to comment on exact circumstances, citing 200-250 protesters hurling objects at police. The protests have spread nationwide, with 400-500 schools closed or partially closed ahead of Tuesday's planned national demonstration. The government and far-right National Rally accuse hard-left France Unbowed lawmakers of stoking the protests, which the party denies. Since last Monday, 5,000 people, 85% teenagers, have been arrested, with 24 schools burned or ransacked and 78 teaching staff injured.