France Suspends Use of Stun Grenades in Student Protests
The use of stun grenades in police interventions has been halted following an incident where a 15-year-old boy lost his hand during student demonstrations across France.
During student protests in France that have continued for weeks and led to the closure of more than 500 schools, the government announced the suspension of stun grenade use after a 15-year-old boy lost his hand.
Rationale for the Stun Grenade Decision
Following the loss of a 15-year-old boy's hand during clashes with police in the city of Lens and rising allegations of police violence, the French government took action.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez ordered the suspension of the use of stun grenades until 18 incident investigations conducted by the police inspectorate are completed.
Situation in Schools and Closures
While protests organized over educational conditions and teacher shortages have continued for more than two weeks, over 500 schools remain closed nationwide.
It was stated that 24 high schools sustained damage due to fires or vandalism during the events and demonstrations, and the repair cost for this damage could reach 30 million euros.
Steps to be Taken by the Government
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated that the government would examine the students' demands and present proposals regarding building renovations and teacher recruitment by the end of October.
Students are trying to make their voices heard against poor learning conditions, which they link to declines in reading and math scores over the past decade.