Protester loses hand to police grenade in Saint-Étienne as France debates non-lethal weapons

PARIS: Cases of protesters losing hands to security forces’ grenades during demonstrations against inflation and the rising cost of living in France have renewed debate over the use of non-lethal weapons.

In the central French city of Saint-Étienne, a protester lost his hand. Earlier, a 15-year-old student was seriously injured in a similar incident in Lens, in northern France.

According to a French news agency, sources familiar with the case said a protester in Saint-Étienne lost his hand in the blast of a grenade fired by security forces.

The incident took place as large-scale protests against inflation and the rising cost of living continue in France.

Earlier, in the first days of October, a similar incident took place during a student protest in Lens, in northern France.

After reports of serious injuries caused by grenades used to disperse protesters, questions have begun to be raised about police methods and the use of non-lethal weapons.