Laurent Nuñez said he had ordered a temporary suspension of the use of grenades in the context of the high school student movement. The announcement therefore concerns police operations at student demonstrations, without specifying a more precise duration for the measure.
The incident preceding the decision took place in Lens on October 5. On that occasion, during an incident linked to the protest, a 15-year-old lost a hand, according to consistent accounts reported by the available sources.
The exact circumstances of the injury, however, have not been conclusively established. The Hindu reported that the minister spoke of a “strong possibility” that the injury was caused by the throwing of a stun grenade, without presenting this account as a definitive finding.
The suspension was announced as several news outlets reported allegations of disproportionate use of force and police brutality during the student protests. The available sources document the allegations but do not independently establish them as confirmed facts.
According to published reports, the movement centers on demands for better conditions in schools and increased funding for secondary education. The mobilizations have thus brought together demands concerning schools and challenges to the way public order is managed.
France 24 reported that the protests took place in various parts of France and that on October 6 they involved tens of thousands of people. The participation figure is attributed to the broadcaster and is not accompanied, in the available information, by independent verification from other sources.