French police began carrying out random bag checks at schools on Thursday as authorities launch a crackdown on knife violence following a fatal stabbing earlier this week.
Education Minister Elisabeth Borne and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced the move outside Beaugrenelle Vocational College in Paris’s 15th arrondissement.
“We’re increasing random and unexpected security operations at school entrances to conduct bag searches for knives and drugs. Stronger deterrence and stricter penalties are absolutely necessary,” said Retailleau.
The spot checks will continue until the end of the academic year in July, following a directive issued to police prefects and school principals on Wednesday.
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France to deploy police at schools for spot bag searches in wake of stabbings
The heightened security comes after a 17-year-old student was fatally stabbed on Monday during a confrontation between rival gangs from two suburban towns southeast of Paris.
The incident occurred outside Louis-Armand Vocational College in the Essonne department.
“Just a few months earlier, a 16-year-old lost their life in a similar incident,” said Retailleau. “We cannot accept the unacceptable. This relentless and horrific cycle of violence must end.”
The ministers outlined a zero-tolerance approach to weapons found during searches, with different procedures based on age.
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