French prosecutors on Thursday called for a 14-year-old pupil to be formally charged with murder after the fatal stabbing of a teaching assistant, in a case that has shocked the nation and reignited concerns over school safety.
The secondary school pupil was arrested Tuesday after allegedly killing with a knife a school monitor — a 31-year-old mother of a young boy during a bag search in the eastern town of Nogent.
The latest school attack caused widespread shock in France, with President Emmanuel Macron denouncing a rise in violence.
As the legal proceedings progressed, schools across France observed a minute of silence in tribute to the victim. The gesture, led by the Ministry of Education, served as a national mark of mourning and solidarity.
The alleged attacker, whose identity has been withheld due to his age, is expected to appear before a juvenile judge. Prosecutors have requested that he be placed under formal investigation for murder, the most serious charge under French criminal law.
The case has reignited urgent calls for improved mental health support and tighter security in schools. Education Minister Nicole Belloubet has pledged a full review of school safety protocols.
France to deploy police at schools for spot bag searches in wake of stabbings
‘Intended to kill’
The attack has sent shockwaves throughout France, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to denounce what he described as a disturbing rise in violence.
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