France suspends the use of stun grenades after student protester loses hand

A demonstrator holds a placard with the phrase, "Listen to the kids" crossed out and underneath: "Tear their hands off" – likely a reference to a protester who lost a hand to a stun grenade – in Paris. © Geoffroy ven der Hasselt, AFP

The French ​government said Wednesday it would suspend the use of stun grenades in its attempts to manage the student protests now roiling the country after a 15-year-old boy had his hand blown off during a clash with riot police.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez on Wednesday said he had ordered the suspension until there was more clarity around the events that took place in the northern city of Lens on Monday. Nunez said there was a “strong possibility” the firing of a non-lethal stun grenade had caused the ‌teenager to lose his hand.