Protests in France, a 15-year-old student loses his hand after picking up a police smoke grenade

Hundreds of schools in France remained fully or partially closed on Monday, as teenagers continued to block buildings and the government struggled to contain the largest youth protest movement in years.

A protesting 15-year-old reportedly lost his hand on Monday in the northern city of Lens, said the local prefect François-Xavier Lauch.

A local newspaper, La Voix du Nord, reported that the teenager lost his hand after picking up a police smoke grenade. Lauch said an investigation into the incident had been opened.

Student unions have called for a national day of protest on Tuesday, with more schools expected to be blocked. Thousands of union members, teachers, public-sector workers and parent groups are expected to join support marches in cities and towns across France.

The Minister of Education said that between 400 and 500 high schools were expected to remain fully or partially closed on Monday, out of a total of 3,700.

The protests began at the end of September at a high school in a Paris suburb over a shortage of teachers. The government was caught by surprise as the protests then spread across the country, amid anger over social inequality and lack of investment in the education system.

Since last Monday, around 5,000 people, mostly teenagers, have been arrested across France and dozens of others have been injured.

The family of a 16-year-old student in Tours has filed a lawsuit for police violence after he lost sight in his right eye. The state prosecutor said the boy’s injuries were consistent with the impact of a police rubber bullet. A police investigation is under way.

Teachers have also been injured. Property damage is estimated at tens of millions of euros.