Teen Loses Hand as France's School Protests Erupt With More Than 5,000 Arrested and Hundreds Injured

A 15-year-old high school student lost his hand after picking up a police dispersal grenade during clashes in northern France on Monday, according to reports. The injury occurred as nationwide student protests over conditions in French schools escalated, with thousands of people arrested and hundreds reported injured.

According to La Voix du Nord, the teenager suffered the injury during a confrontation involving an estimated 200 to 250 protesters and riot police in the Pas-de-Calais region on Monday.

Regional newspaper La Voix du Nord reported that the teenager lost his hand and part of his lower arm after picking up a police dispersal grenade.

The incident occurred as students, teachers, and parents marched across French cities in the largest single day of action so far.

Protesters blockaded high schools nationwide, demanding greater funding for education amid teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and deteriorating school buildings.

Rising Injuries and Massive Wave of Arrests

What began in September in the deprived suburbs of Paris has since spread nationwide street demonstrations escalating into clashes and urban unrest.

France's Interior Ministry said 6,100 people had been arrested since the protests began, with the overwhelming majority of them minors, according to a report.

The French Justice Ministry said more than 1,800 people were being prosecuted, including 1,483 minors, without specifying the alleged offences.

The physical toll of the violent clashes continues to mount on both sides of the picket lines. At least 715 police officers and 215 teenagers have been injured in clashes, according to Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's office.

The High School Students Union said more than half of France's high schools were blockaded or would close for the day, while some local education authorities attempted to move classes online.

Government Promises Action Under Financial Strain

In a direct response to the escalating crisis, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu ordered his cabinet ministers to address the core demands submitted by student organizers and parent groups.

Key issues under review include establishing faster replacement protocols for absent teachers, shortening the traditional 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. school day, expanding student lunch breaks, and releasing funds for urgent structural repairs on aging school buildings.

However, fulfilling these promises presents a major political and economic challenge for the French government, which is currently attempting to trim a growing budget deficit amid rising national borrowing costs and slowing economic growth.

Investors have grown increasingly cautious regarding France's mounting debt, pushing 10-year government bond yields to multi-decade highs.

Political Fallout Six Months Before Elections

The student unrest has also sparked fierce political debate across France, coming just six months before the national election. The government and Marine Le Pen's National Rally have accused lawmakers and mayors from the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party of stoking the protests. LFI has denied the accusation.

While government leaders have accused hard-left lawmakers of stoking student anger for political gain, local mayors and student leaders have defended the right to protest. They argue that student and parent groups have attributed the unrest to deteriorating school conditions and criticised what they describe as disproportionate police force against minors.