Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône: Police officer in France charged with violence during student protests

In France, a police officer has been charged over his actions against a teenager during student protests. He is said to have fired a tear gas grenade at a 14-year-old from close range during student protests in France. The officer was not taken into custody after the incident in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône, northwest of Paris, but was placed under judicial supervision, a local prosecutor said.

According to the public prosecutor's office, the student lost most of his teeth and had a broken jaw as a result of the tear gas grenade. Videos of the incident shared online show three police officers wearing helmets confronting the 14-year-old. One of them hits the teenager, who then kicks him. Then the tear gas grenade flies into the boy's face, who falls to the ground.

Prosecutors speak of disproportionate force

The accused police officer told Pontoise prosecutor Guirec Le Bras that he used the weapon in response to the 14-year-old's "resistance." However, according to Le Bras, “the requirements for self-defense were not met.” There was “a lack of proportionality” when using the grenade. The prosecutor said the offense could be punished with up to 15 years in prison.

The mother of the injured boy said on Monday that he could not open his jaw, could not speak and had to eat food through a straw. His upper teeth were broken and his lower teeth were torn out.

The police used tear gas and other means during the nationwide, sometimes violent student protests to bring the situation back under control, which they described as "urban violence." Trade unions, human rights groups and many of the students accused the police of using excessive force.

Hundreds of thousands of people at protests

According to the Interior Ministry, at least 488 people were arrested and 43 security forces were injured in nationwide protests on Tuesday. Journalists from the AFP news agency reported that the protests were mostly peaceful, but there were isolated clashes. The demonstrators threw objects, whereupon the police used tear gas.

Since mid-September, students have been blocking access to hundreds of schools across the country to demonstrate for better learning conditions. Specifically, they are demanding, among other things, more teachers, smaller classes, shorter school days and better school equipment. At the same time, the protests seem to be sparking a general anger at injustices in the education system and a lack of prospects.