French interior minister Laurent Nunez said 'intermediate' crowd-control means, such as grenades and tear gas, were essential for police to carry out their job. (EPA Images pic)PARIS: Lawyers said Friday they would sue the interior minister over alleged police brutality during France's ongoing protests, which they say has led to severe injuries, including several demonstrators hit in the eye.
France has been rocked by high-school student blockades and cost-of-living protests in recent weeks, less than six months before elections to replace centrist President Emmanuel Macron after his maximum two terms, with the far right leading in the polls.
Rights activists have accused law enforcement of using disproportionate force, following several incidents including a 15-year-old losing a hand to a crowd-control grenade.
