Evan files criminal complaint after losing hand in Lens blockade

Evan, a 15-year-old student who lost his left hand after the explosion of a stun grenade during a high school blockade in Lens, remains hospitalized nearly ten days after the October 5, 2026 incident, parismatch.com reported. The teenager’s legal counsel has announced a formal criminal complaint as conflicting accounts emerge regarding how the device detonated.

The incident unfolded outside the Auguste-Béhal high school at approximately 10:30 a.m. during student-led demonstrations. According to statements from the victim’s lawyer, Bertrand Wattez, the 15-year-old picked up a debris fragment with his right hand when an explosion occurred on his left side. The teenager fled the scene without initially realizing the blast had torn away his hand. Wattez characterized the resulting trauma during an October 14 press conference as comparable to war wounds.

Bertrand Wattez Files Criminal Complaint for Minor's Injuries

Bertrand Wattez filed a complaint with civil party constitution before the senior investigating judge of Béthune on the morning of October 14. The legal filing seeks to initiate a criminal inquiry into the severe injuries sustained by the minor. The defense team stated that the objective of this legal step is to secure a calm and impartial investigation where the rights of all parties are respected. Evan remains under medical care, and his legal representatives noted that doctors cannot yet provide a definitive discharge date.

Prosecutor Asserts Police Officer Followed Operational Procedures

State prosecutor Étienne Thieffry released details from the initial findings of the National Police General Inspectorate, known as the IGPN. The public prosecutor’s statement asserted that the police officer from the mobile gendarmerie or security companies who deployed the grenade was authorized to do so. The official account maintains that the officer acted upon command orders and followed standard operational procedures outlined in training documentation.

Authorities gathered testimonies from law enforcement personnel and bystanders indicating that the grenade landed at a distance of approximately 80 meters. According to these accounts, several demonstrators approached the device before one individual picked it up shortly before the explosion. Legal counsel for the injured student dispute this version of events, and investigators have not recovered video footage capable of confirming the distance or the handling of the device.

Medical Staff Treat Teenager for Permanent Physical Trauma

As the judicial inquiry proceeds under the direction of the Béthune judiciary, medical staff continue treating the teenager for permanent physical trauma.