A 15-year-old boy killed a fellow student and injured three others in a stabbing attack at a high school in Nantes, a city in western France, on Thursday. The attacker was subdued by teachers before police arrived [[1]], [[2]].

Details of the Attack

• The deceased student was a girl, according to BFM TV, while the three wounded students were boys. Police have not confirmed the age or gender of the victims.
• The stabbing took place at Notre-Dame-de-Toutes-Aides, a private Catholic school [[3]].
• A police spokesperson stated that there was no indication of a terrorist motive.

The Aftermath

The school was placed on lockdown for several hours as police secured the site and conducted questioning. police and armed military forces surrounded the area, while worried parents waited outside. Students were allowed to leave school in the midafternoon under police protection.

One parent, Nicolas, said, We’re waiting to be able to hold them in our arms …to help them deal with the stress this will have caused.

reactions

French President Emmanuel Macron praised the courage of the teachers who intervened, saying on X that they undoubtedly prevented other dramas.

Education Minister Elisabeth Borne stated:

A terrible drama happened at midday today, and my thoughts go first to the teenage girl who lost her life, and to the three wounded students.

Elisabeth Borne, Education Minister

She added that the teachers are in shock, and at the same time, very mobilised to return to class.

Nantes Mayor Johanna Rolland, who noted that one of the injured pupils was in a very serious condition in hospital, raised concerns about the mental health of the youth of this country.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said the attack was probably an isolated act, without providing details about the examination.

Suspect and Motive

• Police have not named the suspect or given any motives for the attack.
• The suspect had earlier sent an email with unspecified grievances to all students just before the attack, according to pupils at the school.
• Local newspaper Ouest France reported that the attacker was dressed all in black and wore a helmet and balaclava. Two knives were found lying next to his belongings.
• BFM and other media reported that the suspected attacker had emailed a document to all students in the school,painting a bleak picture of society but not mentioning a possible attack.
• French broadcaster Franceinfo said the stabbing followed a conflict among students.