France: Policeman shot student in face with grenade launcher – serious mouth injury
A policeman used a grenade launcher against a student outside a secondary school in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône. The boy's mother states that "his mouth has been destroyed".
Grenade launcher used against student in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône – two investigations underway
Strong reactions have been provoked in France by the incident on Monday, 28 September 2026, when a policeman fired at close range with a grenade launcher against a student outside the vocational secondary school Château d'Épluches in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône, according to Newsit.gr.
In video footage released from the incident, the student is seen striking a policeman. Subsequently, a second uniformed officer deploys the "Cougar" launcher, with the young man collapsing to the ground.
"His mouth has been destroyed. All his upper teeth have been broken. We do not yet know what remains of his lower teeth," his mother told Le Parisien, while announcing her intention to file a complaint.
The students had gathered that morning outside the school demanding improvements to schedules, compensation for unpaid internships, and renewal of equipment.
The local prosecutor's office provides a different account of events, citing "preliminary findings" and analysis of video footage. According to that account, the minor approached the female police officer leading the unit and struck her. She pushed him away, the student fell to the ground, and then the second policeman activated the launcher.
According to Le Parisien, the prosecutor's office is conducting two parallel investigations: the first concerns the conditions under which the policeman used the weapon, and the second concerns possible acts of violence against a representative of public authority.
Source: Newsit.gr