Police officer charged with aggravated violence after teen loses eye in Tours protest

On Tuesday, the prosecutor of the Republic in Tours, Catherine Sorita-Minard, confirmed that a police officer has been placed under formal investigation for aggravated violence after 16-year-old student Maël lost vision in his right eye during a blockade of an establishment in Tours, Indre-Loire. Medical examinations determined the damage was compatible with impact from a less-lethal crowd-control round (LBD). Maël was hospitalized and his family filed a complaint shortly after learning of the injury.

Both the teenager and his mother have been interviewed by the Inspection générale de la police nationale as the probe proceeds. The prefecture reported that police, assisted by firefighters, were attempting to extinguish several fires when they were confronted with projectile attacks. The case underscores growing scrutiny of police use of force in public disturbances.