Authorities in France are investigating an incident in which a 14-year-old boy, identified only as Eden, was seriously injured after police fired a tear gas grenade at his face during confrontations near a vocational high school in the Paris suburb of St-Ouen-l’Aumône.
The episode took place on September 28 outside Lycée Château d’Épluches, a vocational school attended predominantly by boys from underprivileged backgrounds, where unrest had escalated amid ongoing nationwide student protests. These demonstrations, which began in late September, initially focused on poor school conditions, such as deteriorating facilities and insufficient teaching staff, but have increasingly led to violent clashes and widespread property damage.
According to verified video footage and statements from prosecutors and a teacher who witnessed the incident, police officers confronted Eden near the school entrance during attempts to disperse a group of students. The situation between the boy and officers rapidly intensified, culminating in a male officer pushing Eden with a tear gas launcher. A female officer subsequently struck him with a baton. Following this, Eden kicked at the female officer, after which the male officer fired a tear gas grenade directly at Eden’s face from roughly two yards away. The grenade caused severe injuries, including a broken jaw and the loss of several teeth.
Eden’s lawyer, Elsa Marcel, said he has been unable to speak since undergoing surgery the day after the event. Medical records indicate he will require further invasive surgeries and face a prolonged recovery involving at least six weeks of immobilization, with risks of chronic pain and restricted jaw movement. Marcel has called for charges of attempted murder to be considered against the officer. The male officer, whose name has not been publicly released, has been suspended and is under investigation. Prosecutors reported that the officer claimed he fired the grenade out of concern for the female colleague’s safety. The French interior ministry declined to comment, citing the ongoing inquiry.
The incident has provoked national outrage and is widely cited by protesters as emblematic of the heavy-handed police tactics contributing to the heightened tensions. The week prior, France saw extensive demonstrations from high school students over deteriorating educational conditions, which often turned violent, including the burning and ransacking of at least two dozen schools. Police responded with crowd control measures, including stun grenades and other weapons, drawing allegations of excessive force.
Authorities report approximately 8,000 arrests linked to the protests, with many cases of police misconduct currently under investigation. Prosecutors are examining at least 34 allegations of improper police behavior during the protests, including severe injuries to minors—one 15-year-old lost a hand, another 16-year-old suffered an eye injury consistent with being hit by rubber projectiles, and a 17-year-old had his hand maimed by a grenade.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez defended the police handling of the protests, emphasizing the difficulty of managing violent disruptions and noting that peaceful demonstrations typically did not result in arrests. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu acknowledged the complexity of the situation, pointing to public criticism varying between accusations of police brutality and demands for stronger law enforcement during recent riots.
Locally, the protests at Lycée Château d’Épluches reflect wider frustrations about overcrowding and underfunding: since 2014, student enrollment has increased significantly without corresponding resource improvements, according to teachers. On the day of Eden’s injury, tensions rose after some students ignited fireworks, prompting police to deploy tear gas. While Eden was present near the scene, video reviewed by prosecutors shows he was not involved in setting off fireworks or throwing objects.
Teacher Mathieu Moreau, who witnessed the confrontation, questioned the proportionality of the police response, saying, “What danger did he pose at that moment?” Residents expressed mixed views, with some condemning the violence from protesters and others criticizing the harsh police measures against minors.
The police watchdog continues to investigate the incident, which underscores ongoing national debates about law enforcement tactics, particularly the use of heavy crowd-control weapons against young demonstrators.