Teen's Hand Blown Off

A 15-year-old boy's hand was blown off during a confrontation between police and students in Lens, France, on Monday morning. The incident occurred near the Auguste Béhal high school, according to the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, François-Xavier Lauch.

The prefect said the boy's life is not in danger and that he was transferred quickly to a nearby hospital. Around 500 schools were partially or totally closed across the country on Monday amid student protests over school conditions and staffing.

The protests have led to clashes with police in recent days, with mixed reports about how the boy came to sustain the injury. The police union said the student appeared to have picked up a sting-ball grenade fired by riot police, which exploded in his hand.

However, a girl who was near the teenager said he did not pick up the grenade. Lens Mayor Sylvain Robert said the circumstances still need to be clarified, and a regional prosecutor announced an investigation by the French police watchdog.

The student movement has called for a day of major mobilisation across France on Tuesday. Education Minister Édouard Geffray said at least 190 students have been injured and 589 schools disrupted as protests against underfunding and overcrowding entered a third week.

Analysts warn that how Tuesday's protests progress could be key to whether the government can regain control after weeks of disruptions. The protests began over poor school conditions, including excessively long school hours, overheated classrooms, and crumbling buildings.

The movement has spread across the country, with students setting fires, wrapping their faces with masks, and violently clashing with police. In Marseille, firefighters responding to burning trash were attacked, and a police lieutenant was chased and kicked in Paris.