Teen Injured by Police Grenade During French High School Blockade, Union Leader Condemns Violence

On Monday, police deployed a grenade-launcher at a student blockade in front of a lycée in Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône, Val-d’Oise, hitting a teenage protester who collapsed with severe injuries to his mouth and required hospital care. A teacher described the scene, noting the bloodied mouth. The incident sparked outrage from CGT secretary-general Sophie Binet, who labeled it police violence and urged full investigation and sanctions, blaming directives from the interior minister to stop school blockades.

The Pontoise prosecutor’s office has launched two flagrant inquiries, including one assigned to the IGPN to examine the officer’s use of force. The rectorat de Paris reported that fewer than ten of the capital’s 90 lycées faced attempted blockades that morning. The episode occurs amid nationwide public-sector strikes demanding higher wages and better funding.