A tragic stabbing occurred on Thursday afternoon at the Notre-Dame-de-Toutes-Aides private high school in Nantes, western France, resulting in the death of one student and injuries to three others. The assailant, a 15-year-old student, was apprehended at the scene after being restrained by a teacher .
The attack unfolded during lunchtime, prompting an immediate lockdown of the school. Eyewitnesses reported students fleeing the premises, while others were confined to classrooms as emergency services responded. The school, which caters to approximately 2,000 students from nursery through to high school, was subsequently evacuated .
French authorities have confirmed that the incident was not terror-related. Reports suggest that the assailant may have been experiencing mental health issues and had previously sent a document to fellow students expressing a bleak outlook on society .
In the wake of the attack, French President Emmanuel Macron and other officials have expressed solidarity with the victims and the educational community. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.