Overview
A tragic incident occurred in eastern France where a 14-year-old girl passed away due to a heart attack during a school lockdown initiated in response to a nearby knife attack. The incident has raised concerns about the impact of lockdowns on students’ mental health.
Details of the Incident
- A 14-year-old girl died of a heart attack during a school lockdown in Souffelweyersheim, France.
- The lockdown was in response to a knife attack outside a neighboring primary school, where two girls aged 7 and 11 were lightly wounded.
- Education officials acted swiftly to rescue the girl who suffered the heart attack, but unfortunately, she could not be saved.
Response and Reactions
Parents and officials expressed their concerns about the handling of the situation:
- Deborah Wendling, a concerned mother, highlighted the distress her son experienced during the lockdown.
- Education official Olivier Faron emphasized the need for a thorough analysis of the incident to learn from it.
Assailant and Investigation
The 30-year-old assailant has been apprehended, and authorities have initiated an investigation into the attempted murder of minors. The motive behind the attack is still unclear, with authorities describing the perpetrator as “psychologically fragile.”
Recent Knife Attacks in France
France has witnessed a series of knife attacks, raising concerns about security:
- In a tragic incident in October 2023, a high school in Arras was targeted, resulting in the death of a teacher and the injury of another.
- The suspected assailant in the Arras attack was under surveillance as part of the state’s security watchlist.