France suspends grenade use at school protests
Minister Laurent Nuñez wants their use halted temporarily until it is clear what happened in Lens.
Follow-up to: French school pupils’ protests grow into nationwide movement Tuesday, 6 October 2026, 13:39
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France is temporarily suspending the use of so-called incapacitating or stun grenades at school students’ protests. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced the move after an incident in Lens in which a 15-year-old pupil was seriously injured; the protests had already grown from a regional into a nationwide movement.
Nuñez said on RTL on Wednesday that the grenades would no longer be used during the school students’ protests. According to the minister, the measure will remain in force until it is clear exactly what happened in Lens. The French police inspectorate IGPN is investigating the incident.
The authorities have not yet given a definitive account of what happened. French media report that a grenade exploded near a school in Lens and that a pupil consequently lost a hand. The investigation must establish, among other things, how the projectile ended up there and whether its use complied with the rules.
The measure applies only to the school students’ protests and does not mean that the French police are abolishing all means at demonstrations. A police telegram reported on by French media refers to a provisional suspension until the circumstances have been established.
The school students are protesting problems in education, including staff shortages, overcrowded timetables, outdated buildings and concerns about funding. According to AP, more than 250,000 people took to the streets across France on Tuesday, based on government figures. The government describes police action as proportionate in almost all cases, while demonstrators and some opposition parties criticise the measures used against minors.
The suspension does not alter the movement’s underlying demands. It may, however, reduce direct confrontation between police and demonstrators while raising questions about which means are acceptable at school protests. Until the investigation is complete, it has not been established whether the police or the demonstrator breached the specific safety rules.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The French interior minister announced a temporary suspension.
- A 15-year-old pupil was seriously injured in an incident in Lens.
- The IGPN is investigating the circumstances.
- The school students’ protests have reached nationwide proportions.
Left
Arguments Emphasises that the state must exercise maximum restraint at protests involving minors and that the suspension is a necessary first step.
Values Physical integrity, the right to demonstrate and the protection of young people.
Consequences Fears that heavy-handed policing could radicalise the movement and further damage trust in the government and education system.
Centre
Arguments Sees the suspension as a temporary safety measure that allows room for fact-finding, without establishing in advance who is legally responsible.
Values Proportionality, the rule of law and administrative diligence.
Consequences Wants to prevent one incident from determining the entire policing policy, while also ensuring that an investigation does not begin only after further incidents occur.
Right
Arguments Emphasises that the police must be able to maintain public order when blockades escalate, but that the use of high-risk means must be demonstrably necessary and manageable.
Values Public order, responsibility and the protection of schools and local residents.
Consequences Fears that an overly broad restriction would leave the police vulnerable in the event of further escalation.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The measure, the reason for it and the investigation were confirmed by RTL, LCP and The Guardian. The text explicitly leaves responsibility for the incident open.
- confirmed France is temporarily suspending the use of stun grenades at the school students’ protests. — Announced by Nuñez on RTL and confirmed by LCP and The Guardian. source
- confirmed The IGPN is investigating the incident in Lens. — French reports mention the investigation into the circumstances. source
- confirmed More than 250,000 people demonstrated on Tuesday, according to French government figures. — Reported by AP. source
Editor's note
The temporary suspension and the ongoing investigation have been confirmed by multiple independent sources. The precise circumstances of the incident in Lens and any culpability have not yet been established.Sources
The story so far
- Tuesday, 6 October 2026, 06:41 French school protests put further pressure on budget
- Tuesday, 6 October 2026, 13:39 French school pupils’ protests grow into nationwide movement
- Tuesday, 6 October 2026, 18:40 France scraps lesson time for talks with pupils
- Tuesday, 6 October 2026, 19:36 French school pupils’ protests spread and intensify
- Tuesday, 6 October 2026, 20:40 French officer prosecuted after incident involving pupil
- Wednesday, 7 October 2026, 12:42 France suspends grenade use at school protests (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- NOS — „frankrijk scholierenprotest”
- Het Parool — „frankrijk scholierenprotest”
- Trouw — „frankrijk scholierenprotest”