An anti-terrorism investigation has been launched after a teacher was killed in a knife attack at a secondary school in France.
The attack took place at City School Gambetta-Carnot in the town of Arras in northern France on Friday at around 11am.
A language teacher was killed, while another teacher and the school’s security guard were injured, the latter seriously.
French anti-terror prosecutors have taken over the investigation.
A police officer, who was one of the first on the scene, has told Associated Press that the suspected attacker, a former pupil at the school, shouted: “Allahu Akbar” - “God is great” in Arabic.
A police official has also told Reuters that nothing so far pointed to a potential link between the attack and the current sitaution in Israel.
Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said that the suspect has been arrested. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: “A police operation took place at the Gambetta high school in Arras. The perpetrator was arrested by the police.”
A former pupil of the school, aged in his 20s, has reportedly been arrested— (AFP/Getty Images)
French daily newspaper Le Parisien said that the brother of the suspect was also detained at a nearby school.
A philosophy teacher who witnessed the attack told AFP he barricaded himself inside the school until police arrived. He said: “He attacked canteen staff, I wanted to go down to intervene, he turned to me, chased me and asked me if I was a history and geography teacher.
“We barricaded ourselves, then the police arrived and immobilized him.”
A PE teacher told newsoutlet BFMTV he thought the attack was an exercise. He said: “The students are shocked, you can see it in their eyes. I can see very clearly who the victim was. It’s shocking to hear that siren and know it’s for real.”
One pupil told outlet La Voix du Nord: “We were leaving class to go to the canteen when we saw the guy with two knives attacking the teacher, who had blood on him. He tried to calm him down and protect us.
Pupils are said to still be confined to their classrooms— (Reuters)
French police announced the situation was under control around an hour after the attack too place— (Reuters)
“He told us to leave, but we didn’t really understand, so we ran and others went back upstairs.”
Pupils were confined to their classrooms, while other schools in the town were sealed off. It has been reported that no sutdents were physically harmed during the incident.
At 11.58am, local time, French police announced the situation was under control, confirming an arrest had been made. The suspect is of Chechen origin and on the national security register, say police.
President Emmanuel Macron was sest to travel to Arras following the stabbing.
Meanwhile, political leaders have taken to social media to share their shock and sadness, as The National Assembly in Paris suspended its session in solidarity with the victims.
Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of the country’s National Assembly, said: “Horror has just struck a high school in Arras. My thoughts are with the victim, the injured, their families. I give my full support to the entire teaching community and to the students. Thank you to the law enforcement and emergency services mobilized.”
Jean-Michel Blanquer, former minister for education, said: “The assassination of a professor strikes us down once again. Everything is connected. Our inflexibility in the face of the Islamist hydra is the only way. Any complicity, even intellectual, with terrorism is unbearable.”
The attack has also led to ministers calling for a tightening of security at schools.
Gabriel Attal, minister of education, said: “A knife attack occurred this morning in Arras, causing several victims. I ask you to take without delay all the necessary measures to strengthen the security of all schools and establishments.”
This is a breaking news story - updates to come
