France Halts Stun Grenade Use Amid Student Protests Over School Conditions

France has stopped police from using stun grenades during student protests. This decision comes as protests grow over poor learning conditions in high schools. The interior minister announced the suspension on Wednesday, October 6, 2026, amid rising concerns about police brutality.

Tens of thousands of students took to the streets in cities across France on Tuesday, demanding better conditions in their schools. In response to the unrest, President Emmanuel Macron held an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and other officials to discuss the situation.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez explained that the use of stun grenades would be paused specifically for the student protests until investigations into recent injuries are completed. A 15-year-old boy lost a hand after being struck by a stun grenade, prompting this action. Nunez stated, “I am suspending their use in the high school student protests until the facts of the incident have been clarified.”

In a separate incident, a 14-year-old student in Paris was injured by a tear gas grenade, resulting in several lost teeth. Following this, a police officer was charged. Since the protests began, police have opened 18 investigations into claims of misconduct.

Manuel Bompard, a leader of the France Unbowed party, criticized the government, saying it took serious injuries for the minister to act. The government has accused Bompard’s party of inflaming tensions during the protests.