A tragic incident unfolded at a private school in Nantes, France, where a student was killed and three others were injured in a stabbing attack. The event took place around 12:30 PM local time on Thursday at Notre-Dame-de-Toutes-Aides high school.
According to police, a 15-year-old boy, believed to be a student at the same school, was arrested after he was subdued by teachers before law enforcement arrived. The attacker reportedly entered the school armed with at least one knife and first targeted a teenage girl on the second floor. Sadly, she later succumbed to her injuries.
After attacking the girl, the suspect moved to the first floor, where he injured three more students. Reports indicate that two of these students are in critical condition. Local media described the attacker as wearing all black, along with a helmet and balaclava.
Authorities recovered two knives from the scene, including a hunting knife. Students reported receiving an email from the suspect earlier in the day, expressing grievances that remain unspecified. One student described the school as usually calm, noting that there had never been any serious issues before.
A police spokesperson indicated that there is currently no evidence to suggest that the attack was motivated by terrorism. The suspect was not known to police or security services prior to this incident.
In response to the tragedy, Education Minister Elisabeth Borne announced she would visit the school alongside Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau to show support for the victims and the school community. An official from the school, which is part of a larger educational complex that includes a primary and middle school, declined to comment on the incident.
This shocking event has left the local community in disbelief, as many struggle to comprehend how such violence could occur in their school.