French minister lifts weapon ban

The French interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, announced on France 2 on Friday, October 16, that police and gendarmes could use "intermediate weapons" during the mobilization day on Saturday, October 17, if urban violence occurs.

Loudness grenade moratorium ends

Nuñez ended a ten-day moratorium on a type of loudness grenade, known as Parti pris Grenades, which had previously caused the amputation of a high school student's hand in Lens on October 5.

Scope of lifting remains unclear

The minister did not specify the exact scope of the lifting of the moratorium, leaving questions about which weapons are now authorized and under what conditions.

Confiscated banners still unsorted

The police had previously suspended the use of Parti pris Grenades, and the process for sorting banners confiscated from protesters remained unclear, adding to public concerns about transparency.

Criticism over communication style

The interior ministry has faced criticism for its lack of transparency and for favoring communication that is seen as overly flattering rather than informative, raising doubts about its handling of the situation.