10 police squadrons had been mobilised to secure a clean-up operation in Notre-Dame-des-Landes

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Local prosecutor Jean-François Thony said in a statement: “A 21-year-old man grabbed a teargas grenade that had been thrown at a crowd of protesters by police. But as he lifted his arm to hurl the grenade back at the police officers, it exploded in his hand,”

“His right hand was amputated in light of the severity of his injury and he is currently recovering in hospital.”

Interior Minister Gérard Collomb said the police officers were simply trying to “defend their physical integrity” and “disperse the activists”.

He said: “A group of more than 50 balaclava-clad radicals attacked the police officers with Molotov cocktails and projectiles … under attack, the police responded with hand grenades.”