A principal and a teacher were shot and wounded at Joseph-Lakanal middle school in Aubagne, France, on Monday, 12 October 2026, in an attack that French authorities have attributed to a 14-year-old student of the institution. The incident has triggered a national conversation about the spread of violence in French schools.

How the Attack Unfolded

According to Marseille prosecutor Nicolas Bessone, the student opened fire shortly after 9 am in the common areas of the first floor, wounding the principal and a teacher who were present in the corridor. The student then moved to the second floor, where he fired once near a teacher — the shot hitting the ground — and a second time inside an occupied classroom, with the bullet striking the blackboard.

The Aubagne Mayor confirmed that the school's Chief Education Officer (CPE) intercepted and disarmed the student before handing him over to police. The Marseille prosecutor's office later stated that 'the perpetrator was subdued as he went back down the stairs by a member of the establishment's staff.'

Suspect Arrested, Investigation Launched

The 14-year-old suspect has been arrested and taken into custody. The Marseille prosecutor's office has opened an investigation for 'attempted murder.' Authorities have not yet publicly disclosed a motive for the attack.

What the Education Minister Said

French Minister of National Education Edouard Geffray condemned the incident in strong terms, posting on X that he was heading to the scene immediately. 'Two staff members from the National Education system, a principal and a teacher, were victims this morning of gunshot wounds at Lakanal middle school in Aubagne. A student is said to be the perpetrator,' he wrote.

Geffray further described the attack as an 'unacceptable act' that 'bears witness once again to the spread of unbridled violence in our society, against which we must all mobilise. In words as in deeds.' He was accompanied to the scene by officials Nunez Laurent and Sabrina Roubache.

Broader Context: Violence in French Schools

This incident comes amid growing concern in France over security within educational institutions. The attack on a middle school — with a student as the alleged perpetrator — intensifies pressure on the government to address what critics argue is a deteriorating safety environment in public schools. The Education Minister's language — referencing 'unbridled violence in our society' — signals that this shooting is likely to prompt a wider policy debate. French authorities and education unions are expected to respond in the coming days with fresh proposals on school security protocols.