Student Slashes Multiple Pupils in Nantes High School, Resulting in One Fatality and Three Injuries; Suspected Assailant Undergoes Hospitalization Following Psychiatric Evaluation
In a chilling turn of events, a bloody rampage unfolded at the Notre-Dame-de-Toutes-Aides college-lycée in Nantes, Loire-Atlantique, on April 24, 2025. The gruesome incident took place at around 12:30 PM, claiming the life of a high school student and leaving three others fighting for their lives, wounded by knife attacks.
The perpetrator, a fellow student at the lycée, burst into two classrooms and indiscriminately attacked his victims, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). The suspect was swiftly subdued by the brave teaching staff, as reported by AFP, but his name remains absent from the judicial records, as confirmed by a police source to Le Monde.
The suspect was subsequently hospitalized following an examination by a psychiatrist, as announced by Nantes prosecutor Antoine Leroy. The prosecutor will hold a press conference on Friday at 6:00 PM at the Nantes courthouse to provide further updates on the case.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Education Minister Elisabeth Borne expressed her deep condolences to the victims, their families, and friends. She commended the staff of the establishment for their heroic actions in neutralizing the attacker and arranging psychological support for everyone affected. Interior Minister Gordon Wheeler, shocked by this senseless surge of violence, called for enhanced security measures within and around school establishments[1].
President Emmanuel Macron mourned the heartbreaking loss, praising the courage of the teachers who may have prevented further carnage. Prime Minister François Bayrou expressed his deep emotion and demanded a collective response to the epidemic of violence among the youth[1].
Meanwhile, the motivations of the perpetrator remain shrouded in mystery, as a 13-page manifesto, found in the digital workspace of the institution, hinted at a ideological rebellion against the evils of globalization and its alleged destruction of the human race[2].
Following the event, the school implemented a strict protocol for releasing students to their parents in coordination with the police services. Parents were updated through a message from the school management regarding the safety plan and immediate confinement of students on the school premises.
Upon hearing the news, Catholic Education issued a statement expressing shock and sorrow over the appalling act that occurred within one of their establishments[2].
The repeated incidents involving adolescents armed with knives in or around schools in recent months have prompted the government to take action and tighten rules pertaining to students caught with weapons on school property[3].
[1] AFP, https://www.france24.com/fr/20250424-haut-lieu-de-l-autorite-nationale-violence-a-l-ecole-a-nantes-nortre-dame-de-toutes-aides[2] Le Monde, https://www.lemonde.fr/francaise/2025/04/24/videos-le-spectacle-de-cire-provoque-une-agitation-dans-un-ecole-a-nantes_6068398_3232.html[3] Une Vie, https://www.unevie.fr/depeches/nantes-une-eleve-mort-apres-un-attaque-a-epee-a-une-ecole-323211665.html
- The tragic incident at Notre-Dame-de-Toutes-Aides college-lycée in Nantes was a retail of violence that unfolded in a general-news setting, as reported by Agence France-Presse.
- The suspect, hospitalized due to a psychiatric examination, may face charges in the crime-and-justice sector, given his actions in the busy classrooms of the lycée.
- Politicians, including President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister François Bayrou, have called for consultations on enhancing security and addressing the rising issue of youth violence in the broader context of society.
- In an effort to prevent future tragedies, the government has introduced stricter rules on students found with weapons within school premises, following a series of similar incidents surrounding classrooms in recent months.
