A 60-year-old art teacher at Collège La Guicharde in Sanary-sur-Mer, southern France, was stabbed by a 14-year-old student during class on Monday afternoon and is now in stable condition after emergency surgery. The attack, which occurred around 2 PM in front of 22 students in a third-year art class, left the veteran educator with four knife wounds, three to the abdomen and one to the arm, with her vital prognosis initially at risk.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray traveled to the scene and confirmed that the teacher had exited surgery in stable condition. The minister expressed his immediate thoughts to the victim, her family, and the entire educational community, stating that he shared their deep shock. The school remained closed on Tuesday with psychological support cells established for both students and staff members.
The teenage suspect was apprehended in the school courtyard immediately after the attack and placed in custody on charges of attempted murder. According to Toulon prosecutor Raphaël Balland, the student had no prior criminal record but had documented family problems. The prosecutor stated there was no religious or political dimension to the attack at this stage of the investigation.
Investigators revealed that tensions had existed between the student and the teacher in recent times, with the adolescent reportedly blaming her for disciplinary reports filed against him. Fellow students told authorities that the attacker had repeatedly warned classmates of his intentions, stating that he was determined to stab and kill the teacher. Despite these alarming statements, no preventive action was taken before the violent assault.
The case has also highlighted concerning child welfare issues surrounding the suspect. Prosecutors disclosed that in March, the school had filed a report with authorities over suspected violence committed by the parents against the student's younger sister. In September, a juvenile judge ordered an educational assistance measure for both children. The attack has reignited debate in France about school safety and the need for better intervention systems to identify at-risk students before violence occurs.
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