A TEENAGE girl was killed while three other students were injured in a stabbing incident at a private school in Nantes, western France, on Thursday afternoon (local time).
The incident occurred at Notre-Dame-de-Toutes-Aides, a private institution that accommodates around 2,000 students from nursery to high school.
In a report by BBC, the attacker, whose identity was not disclosed, was restrained by a teacher and arrested on-site.
Police and emergency services responded immediately, with the school evacuated following the incident.
The report added that students ran for safety after an alarm was sounded during lunchtime.
Some were confined to classrooms while others were gradually released by authorities starting at 3:30 p.m. local time.
Parents waited outside the school as the situation unfolded.
One father interviewed by Reuters said they were “waiting to hold [their] children in [their] arms” and “help deal with the stress this will have caused.”
Psychological support was made available to students and teachers. Rue des Épinettes, where the school is located, was closed off to ensure public safety.
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the casualties through a post on X and praised the teachers who intervened during the incident.
“By their intervention, the teachers undoubtedly prevented further tragedies. Their courage commands respect,” he said.
Prime Minister François Bayrou called for increased security checks for weapons in schools, while Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said the case was not just a news item but a “social phenomenon.”
He added that the suspect’s psychological profile was still being evaluated.(MyTVCebu)