// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
Teenager's hand blown off during confrontation between France school protesters and police
French school protests have led to clashes between police and students in recent days. File photo of police at a protest last week
A 15-year-old boy's hand was blown off during a confrontation between police and demonstrators near a school in France, an official has said, as student protests continue across the country.
The "very serious incident" happened in the north-eastern city of Lens on Monday morning, according to the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, François-Xavier Lauch.
"The student's life is not in danger," he said, adding that the teenager was transferred "very quickly" to a hospital nearby.
Around 500 schools were partially or totally closed across the country on Monday amid student protests over the condition of school buildings and staffing which have led to clashes with police in recent days.
There are mixed reports in French media about how the boy came to sustain the injury.
Regional newspaper La Voix Du Nord reported that he lost his hand after picking up a police stun grenade.
When asked about the incident, Lens Mayor Sylvain Robert said the circumstances still needed to be clarified.
"Like you, and like many others, I have seen some videos showing the aftermath. But I did not see how the operation was organised, either by the police or by the students," he told French media.
A regional prosecutor said an investigation would be carried out by the French police watchdog, the General Inspection of the National Police (IGPN), "so all light can be shed on what happened".