French authorities have temporarily suspended the use of stun grenades by police during high school protests following a serious injury to a 15-year-old demonstrator in northern France. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced the pause on Wednesday, citing the need to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident in Lens earlier this week, where the student lost a hand.

While officials have not confirmed whether the teenager was struck directly by a stun grenade or sustained injuries after handling one, they noted that around 200 protesters had been throwing objects at police at the time of the police intervention. Nuñez emphasized that the suspension would remain in place “until we know exactly what happened.” The boy’s mother said her son’s hand was amputated and expressed shock at the severity of his injury, denying that he attempted to pick up the grenade.

The protests, triggered by grievances over chronic teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, deteriorating school facilities, and extended school days, have affected hundreds of schools and tens of thousands of students nationwide. On Wednesday, 429 out of approximately 3,700 lycées—secondary schools for students aged 15 to 18—reported partial or full class suspensions, a notable decrease from the day before. Meanwhile, student unions reported that 80 university campuses, including Sciences Po in Paris, remained blockaded. Several teacher unions have called for strike action on Thursday.

Since the protests began two weeks ago, at least 215 teenagers and 85 school staff have been reported injured. Police have also suffered injuries, with about 750 officers hurt amid repeated clashes. Nuñez confirmed that authorities opened 18 internal investigations into police conduct over allegations of excessive force, highlighting incidents such as a young protester losing multiple teeth and another student sustaining serious eye injuries. Though the minister defended police officers’ role in protecting students, human rights organizations and unions have criticized the police response as disproportionately harsh.

The demonstrations escalated on Tuesday, drawing approximately 250,000 participants nationwide, including pupils, parents, teachers, and union members—marking the largest mobilization so far. The majority of marches passed without major incidents, but some, particularly in Paris, saw sporadic vandalism and clashes between protesters and riot police. Police fired teargas and conducted baton charges to break up confrontations. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned the violence in a parliamentary address and dismissed claims of orchestrated police repression. He is scheduled to deliver a speech on Wednesday addressing both the protests and France’s pressing fiscal challenges, which limit the government’s ability to meet demonstrators’ demands.

The protests have involved significant disruption, with demonstrators setting fires to trash bins, damaging bus shelters, and attacking police. According to the justice ministry, 24 schools have been damaged by fire or vandalism, and over 6,500 people have been arrested—mostly minors—with nearly 1,800 facing prosecution, including about 1,500 underage individuals.

Amnesty International’s France branch has expressed concern over police tactics, citing troubling evidence of excessive use of teargas and batons. The unrest comes amid growing political tensions ahead of the upcoming presidential election, with the government accusing the left-wing La France Insoumise party of encouraging the protests. The party’s leader, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, has voiced support for the movement while calling for nonviolent conduct. The demonstrations highlight mounting social discontent amid France’s budget deficit and economic struggles.