A French high school student is arrested after fatally stabbing another student and wounding Three Others

This image taken from a BFM video shows military personnel standing guard near the site where a French high school student stabbed four other students at his school, killing at least one and injured three others before being arrested, police said, in Nantes, France, Thursday April 24, 2025

A 15-year-old student carried out a deadly knife attack at a high school in western France on Thursday, killing one student and injuring three others before being subdued by teachers and taken into police custody. The attack occurred during a lunch break at the private Catholic Notre-Dame-de-Toutes-Aides High School in Nantes, near France’s Atlantic coast.

The motive behind the attack remains unclear. According to students, the suspect had emailed unspecified grievances to the student body just before the incident. One of the victims died from their injuries, while another remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Armed French officers were seen outside the school on Thursday

Fatal violence in French schools is rare, prompting swift national concern. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou has ordered heightened security measures inside and outside schools across the country and called for a four-week review to propose new strategies for addressing knife violence among teens and children. The possibility of installing metal detectors at school entrances is under consideration.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau indicated the incident was “probably” an isolated act, though the investigation is ongoing. The French counterterrorism prosecutor’s office is assessing the case but has not assumed jurisdiction, as no terrorism motive has been confirmed. Security agencies across Europe have raised concerns in recent months about underage individuals being radicalized or inspired by violent online content.

There was a large police presence at the Nantes school

Students at the school were placed on lockdown for several hours as police secured the area and conducted interviews. Armed police and military personnel surrounded the school complex while distressed parents waited nearby for updates. The school also houses a primary and middle school, and its website was offline following the attack.

Nantes Mayor Johanna Rolland expressed her condolences and highlighted growing concerns about youth mental health in France. Education Minister Elisabeth Borne described the attack as a “terrible drama” and acknowledged the trauma faced by both students and teachers, praising their resolve to return to class despite the shock.

President Emmanuel Macron publicly praised the bravery of the teachers who intervened, stating they “undoubtedly prevented other dramas.”

The school has not commented on the events, focusing instead on providing support to the students affected by the tragedy. The case has reignited national discussions about school safety, adolescent mental health, and the spread of violent content among youth.