On 07/10/2026, French authorities announced an immediate suspension of stun grenades in the policing of escalating student demonstrations. The decision followed a shocking incident in the northern town of Lens where a 15-year-old protester suffered the loss of his hand during a clash with riot police. The move has been presented as a response to growing accusations of police brutality and a bid to defuse tension that has already forced more than 500 schools to close in a single day.
Government action and the Lens incident
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez declared that the use of stun grenades would be halted until a thorough investigation clarifies whether the device caused the injury. Prefect François-Xavier Lauch of Pas-de-Calais confirmed that between 150 and 200 demonstrators were hurling objects at police when the dispute turned violent, but stopped short of confirming the exact weapon involved. An official inquiry has been opened, and eighteen similar cases have been referred to the police inspectorate.
In a separate episode in Tours the family of a 16-year-old lodged a complaint after the youngster lost sight in his right eye, an injury the state prosecutor linked to a police rubber bullet. Both incidents have intensified pressure on Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to demonstrate that the administration is listening to the grievances voiced by thousands of high-school students.
Scope of the protests and school disruptions
What began in late September at a Paris-area high school over teacher shortages has blossomed into a national movement. By Monday, between 400 and 500 high schools – out of a total of 3,700 – were either fully shut or operating on a limited basis, according to Education Minister Philippe Baptiste. Tens of millions of euros in property damage have been reported, including 24 schools rendered unusable by fire or vandalism, a cost estimate ranging from €20 million to €30 million.
Student unions have called for a coordinated national protest on Tuesday, urging barricades, marches, and solidarity actions from university students, trade-unionists, and parents. Roughly 5,000 teenagers have already been arrested, and dozens of demonstrators have sustained injuries. The CGT’s leader Sophie Binet condemned what she described as “an unprecedented crackdown” and warned that “the number of absent teachers who were not replaced had doubled in 10 years.”
Underlying demands and the government’s proposed reforms
The demonstrators’ core demands focus on chronic teacher shortages aging and deteriorating school infrastructure, and the excessively long school day—among the longest in Europe. In the capital’s 12th arrondissement, protesters sang the Marseillaise and performed Mexican waves outside Lycée Lamartine, highlighting issues such as leaking roofs, collapsing ceilings, cockroach infestations, and unbearable summer heat.
Lecornu has pledged to address the five main demands by the end of the month, including the recruitment of replacement teachers, a review of the school-day length, and a programme to renovate dilapidated classrooms. He also stressed that “the government must listen” to legitimate student concerns. However, Binet and other union leaders argue that piecemeal measures are insufficient, calling for an end to budget cuts and a halt to reductions in teaching positions.
While the government emphasizes restoring order—spokesperson Maud Bregeon told CNews that “our priority is to restore order”—the protests have already reshaped the political landscape six months ahead of the upcoming presidential election that will decide Emmanuel Macron’s successor.
