Two violent incidents during school blockades: France Info separates fact from fiction
During school demonstrations in France, two videos of violence are circulating on social media: an amputation in Lens and an alleged drowning in Belfort. Radio France - Justice separates fact from fiction.
School mobilisations: verification of viral videos of violence
Since 21 September, blockades and demonstrations have been taking place across the country. Secondary school students are calling for increased government investment in national education. Simultaneously, numerous videos showing violence have circulated online, raising questions about their authenticity. According to Radio France - Justice, two cases in particular have fuelled debate on social media.
The first incident concerns a 15-year-old secondary school student in Lens, in the Pas-de-Calais department. On Monday 5 October, near a blocked secondary school, the teenager lost his left hand following the explosion of a stun grenade launched by police. He had to be amputated. An amateur video authenticated by franceinfo shows that the young man bent towards the device on the ground, hand forward. However, these images do not allow confirmation of whether he actually picked up the grenade. The General Inspectorate of the Police (IGPN) has opened an investigation. Following this tragedy, the Ministry of the Interior requested the suspension of the use of stun grenades during school demonstrations, pending the investigation.
The second case, which occurred in Belfort on 30 September, remains more controversial. An accusation of attempted drowning has been made: a 17-year-old secondary school student claims that a police officer attempted to drown him in a stream. This teenager has filed a complaint for attempted murder. Conversely, two secondary school students, aged 15 and 17, have been placed under investigation for aggravated assault. They are accused of having struck the police officer who was attempting to arrest the older of the two. The young man acknowledges having hit the officer but maintains his version of events. The IGPN has also launched an investigation into this matter. At this stage, no definitive conclusion can be established.
Between 21 September and 7 October, the IGPN opened 18 investigations for suspected police violence. One third concerns the use of riot control projectile launchers (LBD). The overall toll of the mobilisations reveals 215 pupils and 85 members of national education staff injured. The Ministry of the Interior also records nearly 800 police officers and gendarmes injured since the beginning of the school movement.
Source: Radio France - Justice