French teen loses hand in school protest clash; over 5,000 detained
Version 2: New reports add the scale of the crackdown and the movement — more than 5,000 people detained, 85 percent of them minors, and 413 of 3,700 high schools affected on Oct. 5 — along with the injured student’s life not being in danger, a large protest called for Oct. 6, and a disagreement over how the grenade exploded.
In short
A 15-year-old male student lost a hand in a serious injury during a clash with security forces in the northern French city of Reims on Oct. 5, as high-school students continue blockading schools in protests across France. A police crowd-control grenade is believed to be the cause, though investigative authorities say they cannot determine whether officers threw it or the student picked it up. Japanese outlets reported that more than 5,000 people have been detained in the protests so far, and that a large demonstration has been called for Oct. 6.
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A 15-year-old male student lost a hand in a serious injury during a clash with security forces in the northern French city of Reims on Oct. 5, as high-school students continued blockading schools in protests across the country. A police crowd-control grenade is believed to be the cause, according to reports citing local media. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Citing the French newspaper Le Monde, the local prefect said 200 to 250 students gathered in front of the high school and threw stones and fireworks at the police officers deployed there. Livedoor News and Sankei Shimbun reported that investigative authorities said they could not determine whether officers threw the grenade at the student or whether the student picked it up and it exploded, and that the police oversight body has begun an investigation. Yomiuri Shimbun, by contrast, reported that the grenade fired by security forces is believed to have exploded when the student picked it up, and that his life is not in danger. [ 1 , 3 , 6 ]
The disruption was widespread that day. Sankei Shimbun, citing the national education ministry, reported that protests or disruption occurred at more than 400 schools on Oct. 5, while Yomiuri Shimbun put the figure at 413 of the country’s 3,700 high schools, where protest activity or gate blockades were confirmed. TBS NEWS DIG and Yomiuri Shimbun reported that more than 5,000 people have been detained over the course of the protests, with Yomiuri saying 85 percent of them are minors. [ 3 , 5 , 6 ]
The protests have continued since September over issues including teacher shortages and aging school buildings, spreading to Paris, Marseille and Bordeaux among other areas, with clashes with police and repeated injuries. The documents differ on when the movement began: TBS NEWS DIG said a school blockade was held at a high school in the Paris suburbs on the 17th of last month before spreading nationwide, while Yomiuri Shimbun said the protests have spread across the country since late September. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Further disruption is expected. Yomiuri Shimbun reported that a large protest has been called for Oct. 6 and that there is concern the unrest will intensify. [ 6 ]
Why it matters
The injury prompted the police oversight body to open an investigation, and how the case is resolved could shape how French authorities handle a protest movement that the education ministry says has affected hundreds of high schools. The reported detention of more than 5,000 people, most of them minors according to Yomiuri Shimbun, indicates the protests have grown well beyond the school blockades where they began, and further demonstrations are being called.
Key facts
- A 15-year-old male student lost a hand in a serious injury during a clash with security forces in Reims, northern France, on Oct. 5. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- A police crowd-control grenade is believed to be the cause of the injury, according to reports citing local media. [ 1 , 3 , 6 ]
- Investigative authorities said they cannot determine whether officers threw the grenade at the student or the student picked it up and it exploded, and the police oversight body has begun an investigation. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The local prefect said 200 to 250 students gathered in front of the high school and threw stones and fireworks at deployed police officers. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The national education ministry said protests or disruption occurred at schools nationwide on Oct. 5, with Sankei Shimbun reporting more than 400 schools and Yomiuri Shimbun reporting 413 of the country’s 3,700 high schools. [ 3 , 6 ]
- More than 5,000 people have been detained in the protests, 85 percent of them minors, according to Yomiuri Shimbun. [ 5 , 6 ]
- Yomiuri Shimbun reported the injured student’s life is not in danger. [ 6 ]
- A large protest has been called for Oct. 6, with concern that the disruption will intensify. [ 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A 15-year-old male student lost a hand in a serious injury in Reims on Oct. 5 during a clash with security forces at a school-blockade protest. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- A police crowd-control grenade is believed to be the cause of the injury. [ 1 , 3 , 6 ]
- Protests over issues including teacher shortages and school conditions have spread across France since September, with clashes with police and injuries. [ 1 , 3 , 6 ]
- More than 5,000 people have been detained during the protests. [ 5 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Whether police officers threw the grenade at the student or the student picked it up and it exploded. Livedoor News and Sankei Shimbun say investigative authorities stated they cannot determine this and that the police oversight body is investigating, while Yomiuri Shimbun reports it is believed the grenade went off when the student picked it up.
- When the protest movement began. TBS NEWS DIG says a school blockade was held at a high school in the Paris suburbs on the 17th of last month, while Yomiuri Shimbun says protests have spread nationwide since late September.
- The total number of people injured or any deaths in the protests. The documents say injuries have occurred repeatedly but give no figures, and do not mention deaths.
- The injured student’s condition beyond the loss of a hand. Yomiuri Shimbun says his life is not in danger, but no further details are given.
- The exact origin of the detailed account of the Reims clash. Livedoor News and Sankei Shimbun carry the same Kyodo dispatch, so the prefect’s account and the investigators’ statement trace to one wire source rather than independent reporting.
- The police oversight body has begun an investigation into the case. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Livedoor News reports the clash in Reims on Oct. 5, the injured 15-year-old student and the start of a police oversight investigation, citing local media and Le Monde. [ 1 ]
- Tokyo Shimbun publishes a headline report saying a police grenade caused a high-school student to lose a hand in northern France. [ 2 ]
- Sankei Shimbun reports the same injury and adds, citing the national education ministry, that more than 400 schools saw protests or disruption on Oct. 5, listing Paris, Marseille and Bordeaux among affected cities. [ 3 ]
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun publishes a headline report on the student losing a hand. [ 4 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reports that more than 5,000 people have been detained and that the protests, which it says began on the 17th of last month at a high school in the Paris suburbs, have spread nationwide. [ 5 ]
- Yomiuri Shimbun reports that 413 of the country’s 3,700 high schools saw protests or gate blockades on Oct. 5, that 85 percent of those detained are minors, that the injured student’s life is not in danger, and that a large protest has been called for Oct. 6. [ 6 ]