French Officer Charged After Student Blinded by Rubber Bullet During Protests

A French police officer has been charged with aggravated violence after a 16-year-old student was blinded by a rubber bullet during recent protests in Tours. The incident occurred on September 30, and the student's family has blamed the police for the injury.

France has experienced several days of unrest, sparked by concerns over school conditions. High school students, joined by far-left activists and groups linked to Antifa, have clashed with riot police across the country. Demonstrators have set fire to schools and reportedly attacked teachers.

Students, unions, rights groups, and parents have accused the police of brutality. Earlier in October, a 15-year-old student reportedly lost a hand while attempting to throw a stun grenade back at police near the Auguste Behal high school in Lens. His family has initiated legal action, seeking an impartial investigation, and disputes the police account of the incident.

In response to allegations of officer misconduct, the interior ministry has opened internal investigations into 36 cases of alleged violence against demonstrators. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated that 248 students had been injured during the protests, with most injuries occurring during incidents of urban violence. Additionally, 937 police officers and 149 members of teaching staff sustained injuries.

One of the recent protests involved a fire set at the entrance of a Paris school, trapping teachers and students inside. Firefighters responded to the blaze at the Vauquelin high school, which was described by the school's head as being attacked by a determined group wearing masks. Classes were suspended following the incident.

President Emmanuel Macron has acknowledged that young people have "legitimate concerns" regarding the protests but believes these grievances are being "exploited" for political purposes and are contributing to urban violence. He has tasked the government with developing concrete responses to the high school pupils' unrest within weeks.

Nationwide solidarity demonstrations in support of the students drew significant crowds, with the interior ministry reporting 161,500 participants, while unions claimed the figure was 480,000. Some of these marches saw violent clashes on the sidelines, with police deploying tear gas in Paris and Lyon.

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