OAN’s Abril Elfi
12:08 PM – Friday, October 13, 2023
Authorities have launched a terrorism probe after a teacher was killed and several people were wounded in a knife attack at a school in Arras, France.
On Friday, a man fatally stabbed a teacher and wounded several others at Gambetta High School around 11 a.m. local time in northern France while reportedly chanting “Allahu Akbar,” which means “God is the greatest.”
One teacher was fatally stabbed, a staff member is in critical condition after several stab wounds and another teacher was wounded but not critically.
According to the French national anti-terrorist prosecutor’s office, the suspect is now under investigation for terrorism.
“The national anti-terrorist prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation for the following — murder in relation to a terrorist initiative; attempted murder in relation to a terrorist initiative; association of terrorist wrongdoer in preparation for crimes against people,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
Media reports state that the suspect is a 20-year-old man who authorities had previously announced was under “active surveillance” ahead of the incident.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, announcing the arrest of the suspect.
French President Emmanuel Macron visited the public school where the attack occurred, saying it exemplifies “the barbarism of Islamist terrorism.”
He continued to express his condolences to the family of the teacher who passed away and stated that their bravery “saved many people.”
He finished his speech by announcing that Arras prosecutors will host a press conference about the incident in the “coming hours.”
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