A teenage girl was killed and three other students injured in a shocking stabbing attack at a private Catholic school in the western French city of Nantes on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred at the Notre-Dame-de-Toutes-Aides school, prompting an emergency lockdown and massive police response.
The attacker, whose identity has not been disclosed, was reportedly restrained by a teacher shortly after the stabbing and taken into custody at the scene. A strong police and emergency presence, including army officers, responded to the school, which has since been evacuated.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as students ran through the school grounds, while others sheltered in classrooms following an alarm that sounded around lunchtime. Rue des Épinettes, where the school is located in the eastern part of the city, was sealed off by authorities.
Students and staff were held inside the premises for hours as security protocols were followed. Parents waited anxiously outside, seeking information about their children. “We’re just waiting to hold them in our arms,” one father told Reuters, visibly shaken. “We need to help them deal with the stress this will have caused.”
The school, which educates approximately 2,000 pupils from nursery through high school, has been deeply affected by the tragedy. Psychological support services have been deployed to assist both students and staff in the aftermath.
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, confirmed the casualties on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), expressing his condolences and commending the bravery of teachers who intervened during the attack. “By their intervention, the teachers undoubtedly prevented further tragedies. Their courage commands respect,” Macron wrote.
Prime Minister François Bayrou responded to the incident by calling for stricter enforcement of school safety measures, particularly the need for intensified checks for weapons. The issue of school security has come under renewed scrutiny across France, with this latest attack adding to growing public concern.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who visited the school on Thursday, emphasized that the event should not be dismissed as an isolated tragedy. “This is not just a news item—it is a social phenomenon,” Retailleau told reporters. He also noted that the psychological profile of the attacker remains unknown at this stage of the investigation.
Nantes public prosecutor Antoine Leroy also visited the school and is expected to provide further details in an upcoming news conference. Authorities have yet to reveal a motive for the attack.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the local community and the broader French public. It comes amid a broader debate in France about youth violence, mental health, and the role of schools in safeguarding students.
As the investigation continues, the nation mourns the loss of a young life and prays for the recovery of the injured. In Nantes, grief and shock hang heavy in the air, as a school community begins the difficult process of healing.
