Knife Assault at French School Claims 1 Life, Leaves 3 Injured
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Synopsis
A tragic knife attack at a school in Nantes, France, has left one student dead and three others injured. The assailant, a second-year high school student, was apprehended by teachers before police arrived. Authorities emphasize the need for enhanced security measures in schools.
Key Takeaways
- One student killed and three others injured.
- The attacker was a second-year high school student.
- Teachers intervened to prevent further harm.
- Authorities are calling for tighter school security measures.
- Psychiatric evaluation deemed the suspect unfit for police custody.
Paris, April 25 (NationPress) A high school student wielding a knife entered a school in western France's Nantes and attacked at least four students, as reported by local media and confirmed by police.
One of the injured individuals succumbed to their wounds, according to BFMTV on Thursday, citing multiple sources.
Teachers intervened and subdued the assailant before law enforcement arrived, BFMTV reported, noting that the attacker, a second-year high school student, has since been taken into custody, as per Xinhua news agency.
The suspect, whose identity remains undisclosed but had shown admiration for Adolf Hitler, was restrained by teachers after launching attacks in various classrooms, witnesses stated.
After being detained, he was hospitalized following a psychiatric evaluation.
Just prior to the incident, the individual sent a disjointed email to other students.
The psychiatrist who assessed the suspect determined that his mental state was incompatible with ongoing police custody, Nantes prosecutor Antoine Leroy informed reporters.
This latest incident has left France in shock, as the assailant targeted fellow students with a knife at the Notre-Dame de Toutes-Aides grammar school in the city of Nantes.
During a press conference at the scene, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau mentioned that nearly 50 investigators have been tirelessly working since the attack.
He also indicated that over 70 interviews have been conducted.
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou has urged for enhanced security measures around and within educational institutions following this event.
He emphasized the need to address the issue of "endemic violence" among certain youths and called for strategies to avert future knife assaults.
President Emmanuel Macron, in a statement on X, commended the bravery of the teachers who subdued the attacker, stating that their actions likely prevented further tragedies.
He expressed, "Their courage deserves respect."
French Education Minister Elisabeth Borne announced in February that police would begin random searches near schools for concealed knives and other weapons as part of efforts to combat the rising trend of attacks.
The prosecutor in Nantes is set to hold a press briefing to provide additional details regarding the attack on Friday.
