One person has died and at least three others have been seriously injured after a knife attack at a school this morning. The horror unfolded at Notre-Dame-de-Toutes-Aides private school in Nantes, France.
Police sources say several people were reportedly stabbed by a fellow high school pupil. at 12pm local time. The alleged attacker was arrested by police on the scene after being restrained by a member of staff. According to Europe1, the alleged attacker armed with a knife allegedly went up to the second floor of the school and stabbed a girl following an argument, before returning to the first floor and stabbing a another three students.
The deceased pupil was said to be a second year high school student, although it is unclear which of the four students was killed. Emergency services descended upon the school at around 12.45pm and are currently still on the scene. The three pupils left with critical injuries are currently receiving medical treatment and a medical-psychological unit has been opened within the school.
The 15-year-old detained is a student at the school and was not previously known to police, a spokesperson said. He was dressed all in black, and was wearing a helmet and a balaclava. According to local media, two knives were found near to the scene, alongside his school belongings. There is no indication of a terrorist motive.
Rue des Épinettes is now completely sealed off to all foot and road travel. According to a local reporter at the scene, students were seen crying and comforting one another.
Worried parents rushed to the school, which was cordoned off by police as students were evacuated to the school’s multipurpose room at around 1pm. A first-year student who was in the the school at lunchtime said: “We left our classroom at 1pm and saw a lot of students crying. We didn’t understand why. We’re very shocked.”
“We only see this on television. We didn’t think it could happen in our school,” another a final-year student said. “We still haven’t realized what happened; it’s shocking,” said another.
Police Nationale 44 tweeted: “Our police officers are committed daily to ensuring the safety of your children near schools. Today, a control operation was carried out near a high school in the North of Nantes.”
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