In brief
A 14-year-old boy in south-eastern France stabbed his art teacher, stating he was motivated by 'too much hatred.' The incident occurred in front of classmates and has left the teacher in serious condition. Prosecutors revealed the attack was premeditated, spurred by the boy’s feelings of unfair treatment following previous disciplinary actions. Calls for addressing violence and emotional distress in schools have intensified following this incident.
A 14-year-old who stabbed his art teacher told French police he attacked her because he had 'too much hatred', a prosecutor has said.
The 60-year-old woman's condition remains a 'serious concern' after she was stabbed three to four times in her chest in front of 22 students in south-eastern France on Tuesday, a local official said.
Toulon prosecutor Raphaël Balland stated in a statement that the boy had premeditated the attack, taking the knife from his kitchen with the 'intention of stabbing his teacher'.
La Guicharde school, located in Sanary-sur-Mer, was evacuated after the attack, with lessons canceled the following day.
Balland added there was no known religious or political motivation for the stabbing and that the student was reportedly upset that the teacher had reported several disciplinary incidents against him, which he claimed were 'unfair'.
The teenager expressed to authorities that he 'deeply regretted' the attack, feeling more hatred towards himself than towards the victim, according to AFP news agency.
A decision on whether to place him in pre-trial detention will be determined when he appears in court.
The victim, who has been at the school for 28 years, is currently in Sainte-Anne Military Hospital in Toulon after undergoing surgery, and remains in serious condition.
This incident highlights a concerning trend of violence in French schools, following previous attacks including the stabbing of a teaching assistant last June and several other recent incidents involving students.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray, who visited the school on Tuesday, described the attack as 'unacceptable' and emphasized that schools reflect broader societal issues. He called for collective action involving families, educators, and citizens to de-escalate violence and improve safety in educational settings.
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