A teenage girl has died and three other students were injured following a stabbing attack at a private school in western France.
The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon at Notre-Dame-de-Toutes-Aides, a private school in Nantes. The attacker, reportedly a fellow student, was subdued by a teacher and taken into custody at the scene.
A large police and emergency services presence quickly responded, along with army personnel. The school, which educates about 2,000 students from nursery to high school, was evacuated following the attack.
Eyewitnesses described chaos as students fled the area, while others were locked in classrooms after an alarm was triggered around lunchtime. Parents were alerted and students were gradually released starting around 3:30 p.m. local time.
One parent told Reuters: “We’re just waiting to hold our children in our arms and help them through the trauma.”
Authorities have closed off Rue des Épinettes, where the school is located, and implemented psychological support for both students and staff.
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the casualties in a statement on X, commending the teachers for their quick response: “Their intervention likely prevented further tragedy. Their bravery deserves respect.”
Prime Minister François Bayrou has called for stricter knife checks in schools in the wake of the attack.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and other local leaders visited the school, with Retailleau describing the incident as “not just news, but a social issue.” He added that the suspect’s psychological profile remains unclear.
Nantes public prosecutor Antoine Leroy is expected to hold a press conference in the coming days.
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