French police accused of brutalising minors during student protests

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 17:20 · Archive

French police have been accused of using excessive force against teenage demonstrators, with several suffering serious injuries.

French police have faced fresh accusations of excessive force against minors during ongoing nationwide protests. The demonstrations began in mid-September when high school students revolted against the education system, but have since expanded into a broader protest movement drawing over half a million people to the streets on Saturday. Protesters have criticised public sector cuts, the cost-of-living crisis and the government's education policies.

Several teenagers have sustained serious injuries. One 17-year-old was hospitalised with a head wound requiring stitches after being struck with a baton. A 14-year-old in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumone had his jaw broken after being struck by a tear gas grenade fired by police. A 16-year-old was struck by a rubber-bullet launcher and lost sight in one eye. DW News also reports that one teenager had a hand blown off and another was blinded. Lawyers and rights groups have accused police of using stun grenades and rubber bullets, which many European countries restrict or prohibit during protests.

Lawyers say police tactics are counterproductive. 'They are losing a generation,' said Ainoha Pascual, a lawyer at the Paris Bar, arguing that serious injuries deter citizens from protesting. Authorities have defended police actions as necessary, but experts warn that violence against minors will deepen the gap between the state and its citizens. The French government has said it will deploy military forces during further protests planned for this weekend.

How it is being reported

• Are the French police the most violent in the EU?As protests continue in France, the French police are under scrutiny after new allegations of police brutality. The force has a bigger arsenal than most in Europe.DW News · 22 Oct, 17:01
• ‘I am still traumatised’: French police accused of brutalising minorsPolice violence and use of crowd-control weapons deepen mistrust between French authorities and demonstrators.Al Jazeera · 21 Oct, 08:55

In this story: France · Paris · Ainoha Pascual · Saint-Ouen-l'Aumone · French police

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