As protests by French high students protesting poor educational conditions grow increasingly violent, a 15-year-old student has lost one of his hands in an accident. According to reports, the demonstrations, which began late last month, have left 215 students and 715 police officers injured so far.

According to French newspaper Le Monde and AFP on the 5th (local time), a first-year high school student lost one of his hands after being hit by a sting-ball grenade fired by police.

Sting-balls are non-lethal weapons used for crowd control and dispersing demonstrations. The student was rushed to the hospital, and his life is reportedly not in danger.

Local investigative authorities stated that it is not yet possible to determine whether the student picked up the grenade or if the grenade landed directly on him.

On the 28th of last month, another incident occurred in which police fired a tear gas canister directly at the face of a 14-year-old student, causing severe injuries including a fractured jaw. Le Monde noted that firing tear gas directly at individuals violates standard usage protocols.

Two days later, on the 30th, a 16-year-old youth in the Tours region lost their sight after being hit by a rubber bullet fired by police.

The Human Rights League of France (LDH) criticized law enforcement authorities on the same day for using excessive force against protesters, most of whom are minors.

High school students have taken to the streets since late last month to demand the hiring of more teachers and the improvement of educational conditions.

According to the French government, 215 students and 715 police officers have been injured to date. Twenty-four schools have been burned or damaged. At least 5,000 individuals have been detained, with minors accounting for 87% of them.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu urged authorities on the 4th to prioritize filling teacher shortages. He also decided to discuss comprehensive renovation plans for aging school facilities with local authorities.

Additionally, the French government is pushing for legislation that would require individuals who damage public property to cover repair costs out of their own pockets.

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