France Temporarily Bans Police Stun Grenades Amid Violent Student Protests

French police intervene as clashes break out at the end of a demonstration of high school students and members of education unions amid protests over school conditions in Paris, France, October 6 2026.

France has temporarily banned police from using stun grenades at student-led protests, the interior minister announced, responding to mounting accusations of police brutality during several days of nationwide demonstrations.

The announcement on Wednesday followed a massive mobilization where hundreds of thousands of students and supporters marched across France. Protesters demanded increased funding for education and better conditions in high schools, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to hold an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and other key ministers to address the crisis.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's office stated that he would make a public address later on Wednesday regarding the school protests and the country’s finances.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez revealed to radio broadcaster RTL early on Wednesday that he had suspended the police use of stun grenades at the protests. The decision comes after severe injuries involving minors, including a 15-year-old who lost a hand in the northern city of Lens on Monday following a stun grenade blast. In a separate incident in Paris, a 14-year-old student was hit in the face by a tear gas grenade at close range, resulting in the loss of several teeth. A policeman was subsequently charged on Tuesday over the Paris incident.

According to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, police have launched 18 internal investigations into allegations of misconduct since the demonstrations began. While rights groups, students, and parents’ groups accuse authorities of utilizing disproportionate force against minors, the government contends that the movement has been hijacked by outsiders and turned into urban violence.

The Ministry of the Interior reported that 6,100 individuals have been arrested since the protests started last month, with the vast majority being minors. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice noted that more, specifically over 1,800 people, are facing prosecution, including 1,483 minors, though specific crimes were not detailed. Data from Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s office indicates that at least 715 police officers and 215 teenagers have sustained injuries during the clashes.

The movement originated in late September as students blocked entrances to hundreds of high schools for 15- to 17-year-olds to protest dilapidated facilities and teacher shortages while demanding increased educational funding. Demonstrations expanded to include parents, teachers, and union workers in Paris and other cities on Tuesday, accompanied by widespread claims of excessive police force. Although most demonstrations have been peaceful, sporadic violent clashes have erupted between police and protesters.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu condemned the violence on Tuesday, informing lawmakers that it remains completely intolerable while denying allegations that the government ordered police repression against the protesters.