Student loses hand, France halts grenades

France has suspended the use of stun grenades to disperse protests after a 15-year-old student lost his hand in an incident in Lens on Monday.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the grenades would not be used until the circumstances of the incident are established.

At least 500 schools were partially or fully closed on Wednesday as student protests continued. Students are demanding better classroom conditions, more teachers, longer lunch breaks and increased funding for education.

On Tuesday, students blockaded around 2,000 schools in the largest protests so far. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has instructed ministers to address their demands.

-AJM