Paris - According to authorities, an incident at a school in France resulted in the tragic death of a teacher and left two individuals severely injured due to a knife attack.
The French Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, reported that this attack occurred at the Gambetta High School, situated in the northern city of Arras, around 11:00 AM local time. The perpetrator has been apprehended and is currently in police custody.
Witnesses at the scene mentioned that the assailant, described as a man in his twenties of Chechen origin, shouted "Allahu Akbar," signifying "God is greatest," during the assault. The victim who lost their life was a French language teacher, while the injured parties included another teacher and a security guard.
The suspect is known to security services for his association with radical Islam, and there are reports that he was a former student at the school.
The French anti-terror prosecutor's office has initiated an investigation into the incident, considering it as a case of "murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise" and "attempted murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise."
Reports from the French media indicate that the attacker's brother has also been detained by the police.
Authorities have affirmed that the situation is currently under control, and President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit the school later on Friday. In a show of support for the victims, the National Assembly in Paris has suspended its session.
This event takes place amid heightened tensions in France's substantial Muslim and Jewish communities, attributed to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. However, law enforcement has stated that there is no evidence linking this incident to the Middle East.
It's noteworthy that this attack occurs nearly three years after the murder and beheading of another teacher, Samuel Paty, at his school outside Paris. The perpetrator of that incident, 18-year-old Abdullakh Anzorov, a Russian Muslim refugee, was shot dead by the police shortly after the attack.