France halts police use of stun grenades at student protests

What the report says

France’s interior minister has temporarily suspended police use of stun grenades during student-led protests, following mounting criticism over the policing of demonstrations that have spread across the country. Al Jazeera, citing AFP and Reuters, reported that the move came after days of unrest tied to demands for more education funding and better conditions in high schools.

The protests intensified after large marches on Tuesday that drew students, parents, teachers and union members in Paris and other cities. According to the report, President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and senior ministers to try to calm the situation. Lecornu was also due to make a public address on Wednesday about the protests and France’s finances.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said he had paused the use of stun grenades after a 15-year-old lost a hand in Lens and a 14-year-old in Paris was injured in the face by a tear gas grenade. Police have opened 18 internal investigations into alleged misconduct since the protests began, while rights groups and families have accused authorities of using excessive force against minors. The government says the movement has been infiltrated by outsiders and turned into street violence.

The Ministry of the Interior says 6,100 people have been arrested since the protests began last month, mostly minors, and the justice ministry says more than 1,800 are being prosecuted. The unrest highlights broader tensions over school conditions and police tactics in France.