A tragic incident has unfolded at a secondary school in the city of Nantes, western France, where a student was killed in a violent knife attack on Wednesday, 23 April.
Officials have confirmed that, at this stage, there is no evidence pointing to a terrorist motive. The motive for the attack remains under investigation.
French Education Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra expressed her sorrow in a post on social media, saying:
My thoughts are with the family, friends, and classmates of the young victim. We stand with the entire school community in Nantes during this horrific time.”
The school has been temporarily closed, and psychological support teams have been deployed to assist traumatised students and staff.
President Emmanuel Macron is being kept informed of developments, while local officials have called for calm as the investigation continues.
This is a developing story, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
