A 14-year-old student stabbed his music teacher in the face during class at a middle school in Benfeld, France, on September 24, 2024, in what authorities described as an isolated incident. The teacher survived the attack and is in stable condition after surgery, while the student remains hospitalized in critical condition after injuring himself during his arrest.
The attack occurred in a hallway of the Robert Schuman middle school in Benfeld, a town in northeastern France’s Bas-Rhin department. The student used a large kitchen knife to stab his teacher before fleeing the scene on a bicycle. He was arrested shortly after but stabbed himself in the neck during the arrest, according to French broadcaster BFM.
Strasbourg prosecutor Clarisse Taron revealed that the student had been identified for his fascination with Nazi ideologies and weapons. The prosecutor indicated that the student had a difficult childhood, having been placed with a host family where he suffered violence before being moved to an institution. He had already been sanctioned at the institution and was being monitored by psychologists after making Nazi-themed drawings, including images of soldiers giving Nazi salutes.
French Education Minister Elisabeth Borne told reporters that the student had no track record of violence but had been temporarily expelled from school. A new disciplinary procedure had been opened after he drew SS symbols on a notebook. Borne noted that the teacher “is still being treated at the hospital” and confirmed her life was not in danger after initial surgery.
The prosecutor emphasized that the student did not attempt to attack other teachers or students before fleeing. Approximately 300 people were present at the school during the incident, which prompted an immediate evacuation of the building. Emergency response units were activated to provide support to students and staff members.
Jacky Wolfarth, mayor of Benfeld, described the incident as isolated when speaking to reporters. The town’s gendarmerie secured the area while investigators processed the scene. Local authorities declined to provide immediate comment, and the prosecutor’s office did not respond to initial requests for information.
This incident adds to ongoing concerns about security in French schools. The attack occurred just months after then-Prime Minister Francois Bayrou announced the government would test adding security gates at schools following another stabbing incident involving a school aide during a bag search in June 2024.
The case also evokes memories of the 2020 murder of teacher Samuel Paty, who was killed after showing pupils caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad during a class on free speech. That incident sparked intense political debate about school safety and prompted nationwide discussions about protecting educators.
Authorities indicated that the student’s background revealed a pattern of concerning behavior related to extremist ideologies. Despite being monitored by mental health professionals, he had continued to exhibit interest in Nazi symbolism and weaponry. The prosecutor noted that while he had been placed in institutional care due to his troubled home life, warning signs about his fascination with violent ideologies had been documented.
The teacher underwent surgery and remains under medical observation but is expected to recover from her injuries. Hospital officials confirmed that her condition stabilized following the initial medical intervention. The student’s condition remains critical as he continues to receive treatment for self-inflicted injuries sustained during his arrest.
French media coverage of the incident highlighted the rapid response from law enforcement and emergency services. The school community received counseling support as authorities worked to address the psychological impact on students and staff who witnessed or were affected by the violence.
The investigation continues as authorities examine the student’s background and potential motivations for the attack. Officials stressed that while the incident was serious, it appeared to be an isolated act rather than part of a broader threat to school safety in the region.
