France has announced that it will no longer deploy stun grenades in policing student protests after a boy suffered a severe injury when a hand was blown off during a demonstration.
The incident, which drew widespread attention, involved a stun grenade used by police forces during a student protest. The device caused a blast that severed the boy’s hand, prompting a public outcry over the use of such weapons against young demonstrators.
Following the tragedy, several advocacy groups and civil‑rights organisations criticised the police for what they described as disproportionate force towards teenagers. Their complaints added pressure on authorities to reassess the use of crowd‑control tools in youth‑led demonstrations.
In response, the French government has halted the deployment of stun grenades in future protests. The decision is part of a broader review of police tactics in the wake of repeated concerns about excessive force in student demonstrations.
While the ban on stun grenades marks a significant policy shift, officials have not yet detailed additional reforms or guidelines for policing student protests. The incident has reignited debate over the balance between maintaining public order and protecting the rights of young protesters.
<small>Source: BBC News — read the original story there.</small>
