Protesters stand in a street in front of riot police officers near the Place de la Bastille in Paris on October 5, 2026.

A 15-year-old student had his hand blown off on Monday during a protest in France, authorities said, as demonstrations for better teaching conditions disrupted education at hundreds of schools nationwide.

A police union source said the student in the northern town of Lens appeared to have picked up a sting-ball grenade fired by riot police, hoping to fling it back, but the device exploded in his hand.

The protests has rocked the country since last week, with lessons disrupted at hundreds of schools.

Students trickled into some schools despite ongoing protests outside their gates, ahead of a day of larger demonstrations expected on Tuesday.

Since late September, pupils have barred the entrances to hundreds of schools, complaining of teacher absences, overloaded timetables, dilapidated classrooms and buildings ill-adapted to rising temperatures, among other grievances.

The teenage discontent has erupted with just months to go before elections next year to replace centrist President Emmanuel Macron, with the far right eyeing its best chance yet at seizing power.

The government has sought to address the grievances, while accusing hard-left activists of having hijacked the protest movement.

More than 400 out of France's 3,700 high schools, known as lycees, were partially or totally closed on Monday morning, the education ministry said.

A third of the 468 lycees for teenagers aged 15 to 17 were to be closed in the Paris region, authorities predicted on Sunday.

Source: https://iol.co.za/news/world/2026-10-05-france-teen-protester-loses-hand-picking-up-police-grenade/