French lawyers sue interior minister over protest injuries

Lawyers plan complaint against interior minister

Lawyers representing at least 18 people injured during French protests since mid-September plan to file a complaint against Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez over alleged police brutality.

Serious injuries from police weapons

Around 20 serious injuries have been recorded during student and university demonstrations, including loss of hands and eyes, facial fractures and deep shrapnel wounds from police rubber-bullet launchers and grenades.

Injuries concentrated on 17 October

Many of the most serious injuries occurred during protests on 17 October, when police used rubber-bullet launchers and grenades against demonstrators.

Lawyer accuses minister of ordering weapons

Lawyer Arie Alimi said Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez ordered the use of weapons he knew could cause permanent injuries and should not be used to police demonstrations.

“We now believe it is imperative to target the person responsible for these mutilations and massive damage, namely Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.”

Complaint to go to special court

The collective complaint will be submitted within three weeks to the Court of Justice of the Republic, which has jurisdiction over alleged offences by government ministers in their duties.

Tracing the chain of responsibility

Lawyer Elsa Marcel, representing a 14-year-old injured by a grenade launcher projectile outside a school in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône, said lawyers will request investigative steps to trace responsibility.

Around 10 clients signed complaint so far

Around 10 of the lawyers' clients have agreed to sign the collective complaint, though the lawyers represent at least 18 injured people.

Potential charges against Nuñez

Lawyer Arie Alimi said potential charges against Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez could include intentional violence resulting in mutilation or complicity by instigation.

Minister admits police lost control

Following unrest on 17 October that led to more than 1,300 arrests and several convictions, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez admitted that police had lost control.

Police opened 52 internal investigations

As of 30 October, police had opened 52 internal investigations relating to student protests, including 48 concerning violence on 17 and 18 October.

Specific cases of permanent injury

A 16-year-old permanently lost sight in one eye during a high-school blockade in Tours on 30 September. A 17-year-old lost his right hand in a grenade explosion in Saint-Étienne on 17 October.