French teen dies of heart attack after lockdown amid knife attack at nearby school

A 14-year-old girl passed away due to a heart attack after her school initiated a lockdown in response to a knife attack in a nearby primary school in eastern France, media reports said. A man reportedly stabbed two girls aged 7 and 11 outside a neighbouring primary school.

The girl who died was enrolled in the middle school located in Souffelweyersheim.

The attack in the primary school left two girls lightly wounded. Education official Olivier Faron reportedly said that the girl who suffered a heart attack was rescued by teachers however, her life could not be saved.As per AFP quoting education official, the teachers were quick to call the fire department amid the chaos.

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After the knife attack in a nearby facility, themiddle school took precautionary measures by closing its doors and imposing a lockdown. Faron said, "Sadly this pupil underwent an episode of very high stress that led to a heart attack."

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A concerned mother, Deborah Wendling, expressed her son's distress during the lockdown, stating, "Whereas in the primary school they made it more like a game, perhaps here it was a little too direct."

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However, Faron defended the teachers' actions saying, "There is no perfect solution," while also highlighting the need for a thorough analysis of the situation to draw lessons from it.

30-year-old assailant

The assailant, a 30-year-old individual, has been apprehended by the police, and an investigation into attempted murder of minors has been initiated by the prosecutor's office. Although the motive behind the attack remains unclear, authorities described the perpetrator as "psychologically fragile," ruling out terrorism as a motive.

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France has seen numerous knife attacks last year. In a tragic incident on October 13, 2023, a high school in the northern French town of Arras fell victim to a knife attack, resulting in the death of one teacher and the injury of another. The suspected assailant was under surveillance as part of the state's 'Fiche S' watchlist, a security list used in France that contains the names of individuals who are considered potential threats to national security.

(With inputs from agencies)