A boy injured after a grenade explosion during high school student protests in France

The prefect of the Pas-de-Calais department, where Lens is located, François-Xavier Lauch, said the boy was rushed to hospital. BFMTV reported that it was a hospital in Lille.

The boy picked up a grenade

The accident occurred at the high school. Auguste Behal in Lens. The prefect described that about 200-250 high school students gathered in front of the high school. Some of them threw various objects at the police. Lauch reported that stones and pyrotechnic mortars were used against the police. The daily La Voix du Nord and the AFP news agency reported that the boy picked up a flashbang grenade thrown by the police to throw it away, but the grenade exploded when the teenager held it in his hands.

The prefect emphasized that he could not provide the exact circumstances because the facts would now be determined legally. Police verification proceedings have been initiated, which include, among others: explain what type of grenade was used.

The high school announced that it was switching to remote learning.

Why are high school students protesting?

Protests by high school students in France began in the second half of September with demonstrations in the Paris region. Students demand funding for their institutions, complaining about the poor condition of schools, too many students in classes, and teachers being overloaded. Demonstrations became more serious last week, with violence and clashes with police.

High school on fire

The Vauquelin High School in southeast Paris suspended classes on Monday after masked gunmen attacked the building three times and set fire to the entrance.

The perpetrators hit the entrance door, breaking the glass, and then set fire to the entrance. Firefighters who were extinguishing the fire were attacked using pyrotechnic mortars.

About 100 students were evacuated from the building.

The Ministry of Education reported that various types of actions or disruptions took place on Monday morning in a total of 413 institutions. This is less than last week: on Friday morning there were over 500 such outlets, and on Thursday - over 600.