In the early hours of Monday, gunfire erupted inside the Joseph‑Lakanal middle school in Aubagne, a suburb of Marseille. A 14‑year‑old pupil fired a hunting rifle, striking the headmaster and a teacher in the chest but leaving them stable. A third staff member was grazed and later treated for a superficial wound.
School staff reacted quickly, containing the teenager before police arrived. Officers cuffed the suspect and secured the premises. The shooting was reported to the Marseille prosecutor’s office, which confirmed the arrest.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray took to X, labeling the act a "clear sign of unchecked violence" and urging a national response. He also said the pupil was the likely perpetrator, adding to the minister’s call for vigilance.
Authorities dismiss any connection with the wave of high‑school protests that have rocked France lately, noting the incident occurred in a middle school untouched by demonstrators. The Prime Minister’s office dispatched the interior and education ministers to the scene.
Investigators will now probe motive and weapons procurement, while the suspect faces charges of attempted murder. A court hearing is slated for next month, with prosecutors seeking a trial within the next six weeks.