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France: Teacher dies after stabbing attack

February 22, 2023

French media reported that the Spanish language teacher, a woman in her 50s, was allegedly attacked by a 16-year-old student.

https://p.dw.com/p/4NpBZ
An ambulance parked outside a school in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
A high school student has reportedly stabbed a Spanish teacher to death in a school in the French town of Saint-Jean-de-LuzImage: Vincent Dewitte/MAXPPP/dpa/picture alliance

A student in southwestern France has attacked a teacher, leading to her death, officials said on Wednesday. 

"My thoughts are with the family, colleagues and the pupils. I will be going to the site straight away," said Education Minister Pap Ndiaye, who is expected to hold a press conference at 4 p.m. local time (1500 GMT).

What we know about the attack

The attack took place at a high school in the town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, not far from the French-Spanish border. 

Government spokesman Olivier Veran said the attacker was 16 years old.

According to the regional daily Sud Ouest, the boy stormed into a Spanish class with a knife and attacked the teacher. The paper said students fled the Roman Catholic school in panic after the stabbing. 

He is alleged to have stabbed the Spanish language teacher in the chest, broadcaster BFMTV reported.

BFMTV said police arrested the suspect, who told officers that he had been possessed and heard voices that instructed him to attack the teacher.

The French news agency AFP quoted prosecutor Jerome Bourrier as saying that the teacher died of her injuries after receiving emergency aid at the scene. 

fb/nm (AFP, dpa, Reuters)