A tragic incident occurred at a middle school in eastern France, where a 14-year-old student stabbed a school employee to death during a bag check. The attack took place at the Francoise Dolto School in Nogent, north of Dijon, and resulted in the detainment of the student responsible. A police officer assisting with the bag checks was also injured during the arrest.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolences, stating that the nation is in mourning over the senseless act of violence. School violence has been a growing concern in France, leading the Education Ministry to implement bag checks at certain schools in an effort to address the issue. During a two-month period this spring, 186 knives were confiscated during these checks, with 32 individuals being detained.
The 14-year-old student involved in the attack had no prior police record, according to Regional Prosecutor Denis Devallois. Education Minister Elisabeth Borne revealed that the student had been part of the school’s anti-bullying program and had previously been suspended for disrupting class earlier in the year.
The incident has prompted the school to cancel classes for the day, with psychological support being offered to students and staff. This tragic event comes on the heels of another school stabbing in western France, where a high school student stabbed four others, resulting in one fatality and three injuries. The prime minister has called for stricter measures to address knife violence in schools following these incidents.
