France suspends stun grenades at student protests after teenager loses hand
publishers 66articles 117first reported 28 Sep, 14:12 UTCdeveloping since 28 Sep · 33 editions
France temporarily suspended police use of stun grenades at student-led demonstrations on Wednesday after a 15-year-old lost a hand during a clash in Lens, amid mounting allegations of excessive force against minors.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced the measure after Tuesday’s nationwide rallies drew at least 256,000 people, according to the Interior Ministry. Riot police used tear gas and water cannon when violence broke out at the edges of some marches. A police officer was charged Tuesday after a separate incident in Paris in which a 14-year-old was struck in the face by a tear-gas grenade and lost several teeth.
The protests began in September with a strike over staffing vacancies and inadequate resources at Saint-Exupery high school in the Paris suburb of Creteil. They spread to schools across France as students demanded action on teacher shortages, overcrowded classes, deteriorating buildings, long school days and inequalities in funding. Parents, teachers and trade union members have since joined the movement.
Authorities have opened 18 internal investigations into alleged police misconduct, Nunez said. The government says outsiders have exploited the largely peaceful protests and contributed to urban violence. More than 500 schools remained closed Wednesday, and further marches were planned for Thursday.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the government would use Wednesday’s pause in demonstrations to begin talks with students. He was expected to address the public later in the day after President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting with senior ministers.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 162 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 66
- Source articles
- 117
- Given to the writer
- 8, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 162 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
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