French police face probe over serious injuries to students during protests

French authorities are investigating 24 cases of alleged police brutality against students during nationwide protests over school conditions that have lasted two weeks. The internal affairs unit (IGPN) is examining incidents involving plastic bullets, tear gas, sting-ball grenades, and batons. Police have made 6,877 arrests, mostly of minors, while officials say roughly 700 officers have been injured and schools have been damaged.

The most prominent case involves a 14-year-old identified as Eden in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône near Paris. According to his family and lawyer Elsa Marcel, he was sitting on a wall looking at his phone meters from a demonstration when an officer struck him with a baton. After the boy kicked the officer in response, a second officer allegedly fired a tear-gas grenade from a Cougar launcher at close range, hitting him in the face and fracturing his jaw and several teeth.

“He shot him in the mouth and left him lying on the ground, without even calling emergency services.”

The officer involved was placed under formal judicial investigation on Tuesday for violence by a public official causing permanent disability. The family has filed a complaint for attempted murder. Police declined to comment, citing the ongoing inquiry.

In a separate incident, a 15-year-old lost a hand, likely due to a sting-ball grenade. Following these injuries, the government temporarily suspended the use of sting-ball grenades. Human rights groups and politicians are calling for a permanent ban on plastic bullets and other "less-lethal" weapons.

A Reuters investigation documented 28 cases of police-inflicted injuries, 15 of which are part of the IGPN probe. The unrest has intensified debate over policing methods ahead of the 2027 presidential election.