An injured 15-year-old high school student who lost his left hand during a demonstration in Lens officially disputes the police narrative, according to a statement released on Saturday, October 10, 2026, by his lawyer, Christine Bouquet-Wattez.
Did You Know?
The disputed explosion involved a type of stun grenade designated as an EF-SON, an intermediate weapon whose use was subsequently suspended by Minister of the Interior Laurent Nuñez pending an investigation into the circumstances of the incident in Lens. These “intermediate” weapons include explosive grenades and LBD defense ball launchers, which are categorized as firearms with “reduced lethality.”
Investigation Details From The Béthune Prosecutor
On Friday, October 9, 2026, Béthune prosecutor Etienne Thieffry outlined the initial findings of an inquiry handled by the National Police Inspectorate, known as the IGPN. Based on those preliminary checks, the prosecutor stated that the deployment of the police grenade occurred in line with prescribed regulatory procedures.
Investigators reported that almost all witness testimonies gathered from law enforcement officers and third parties indicated that the grenade was launched from a long distance of approximately 80 meters. According to that version of events, the device landed on the ground before a demonstrator picked it up and held it until it detonated. The prosecutor acknowledged, however, that no video footage is available to investigators to show the exact moment of the explosion. One witness testimony diverged from the others regarding these events.
Legal Contestation By The Family And Defense
Christine Bouquet-Wattez issued a firm denial on behalf of the injured adolescent and his family, stating that Evan formally disputes the parquet’s version of the events. The defense emphasized that the teenager denies picking up the grenade and denies any involvement in acts of violence during the demonstration.
The legal team expressed astonishment that the official police version was publicly supported by the prosecutor before the teenager had even been questioned by police officers. The family’s statement highlighted that direct visual evidence of the incident is lacking.
Student protests spark widespread arrests and school closures
The incident in Lens forms part of a wider wave of high school protests driven by student grievances over learning conditions. The unrest has led to numerous roadblocks and widespread minor arrests. On one day, 141 high schools remained closed across France, representing less than 4% of the country’s 3,700 schools. A total of 6,877 people, 86% of whom are minors, have been detained. Sebastian Roché, a CNRS research director and author of “La police contre la rue,” considers the level of use of intermediate weapons during these youth protests to be unprecedented.
In response to the mounting tension, Minister of the Interior Laurent Nuñez ordered the suspension of stun grenades during high school demonstrations on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Meanwhile, the injured teenager’s mother filed a formal complaint on Thursday, October 9, 2026, regarding the wounds sustained by her son. Authorities confirmed that the judicial inquiry remains open to establish whether the student picked up the device or if it landed directly upon him, and the injured minor is scheduled to be questioned by investigators as soon as medical clearance is granted.
Investigators open numerous inquiries into police conduct
The Ministry of the Interior has informed BFMTV that the IGPN has opened 24 investigations into incidents occurring since the start of the high school movement. In Paris alone, five judicial inquiries have been launched, including one involving a police officer who struck a protester in the face with a knee.
Minister suspends stun grenade use after student injury
When did the incident involving the injured high school student occur?
The incident took place on Monday, October 5, 2026, in Lens within the Pas-de-Calais region during a high school demonstration.
What type of device caused the injury?
The explosion was caused by an EF-SON stun grenade deployed during a police operation on the scene.
What action did the government take following the incident?
Minister of the Interior Laurent Nuñez ordered the suspension of the use of stun grenades against high school mobilizations until the circumstances surrounding the event in Lens are fully clarified.
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