French police accused over war-like injuries to teenagers in school protests

French police accused of war-like injuries to teenagers in school protests

The full report

French lawyers and rights groups have said that several teenagers have suffered war-like injuries from police weapons used during school protests, according to The Guardian — World.

The protests, which began in mid-September, have seen hundreds of high schools across the country blockaded as students demand the replacement of absent teachers and repairs to decrepit buildings.

Police have opened internal investigations into 36 allegations of officer violence against demonstrators, including four children allegedly being 'mutilated' by explosive weapons, and six sustaining 'significant injuries'.

The interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, told the senate that the allegations include physical blows, insults, or alleged sexual assault.

One 15-year-old boy, Evan, had a hand blown off in the explosion of a police stun grenade outside a school protest in Lens, northern France, on 5 October.

His lawyer, Bertrand Wattez, said: 'His injuries resemble war injuries.' Wattez said Evan had gone to school to attend class and discovered a protest under way.

Another boy, Eden, 14, suffered extensive facial injuries, including two fractures to his jaw, the loss of his bottom teeth, and all his top teeth broken after he was allegedly hit by a shot from a grenade launcher.

The family has filed a legal complaint for attempted murder, and an officer has been suspended and placed under official investigation.

This week, a police officer in the western city of Tours was charged with aggravated battery after Maël, a 16-year-old at a vocational high school, lost the use of his eye allegedly after a shot from a form of rubber-bullet launcher.