Teen loses hand after police grenade blast in Lens, prosecutors deem firing compliant
A 15-year-old student in Lens had his left hand amputated after a police-launched stun grenade exploded, and the prosecutor said the shot followed official procedures.
On Monday, a 15-year-old pupil at the Auguste-Béhal lycée in Lens suffered a severe blast when a CRS officer fired a stun grenade during a demonstration, resulting in the amputation of his left hand. Prosecutor Étienne Thieffry announced that the grenade was discharged in line with the standard operating procedure and on orders from superiors. The injured teen is still in hospital, and his mother has lodged a formal complaint over his injuries.
The IGPN is conducting the inquiry, seeking to clarify if the grenade was retrieved by the student or if it fell to the ground before exploding. Witnesses suggest the grenade traveled about 80 metres before landing, after which protesters approached it. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has suspended the use of stun grenades in school protests pending the investigation's outcome.
Why it matters
The case raises questions about police crowd-control tactics and accountability after a teenager lost a hand.
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