the “psychiatric dimension” appears “dominant in the act of this minor”, ​​believes the prosecutor

A 12-year-old student is suspected of having attempted to attack a teacher at Hautes-Ourmes college, south of Rennes, with a knife.

The Rennes public prosecutor Philippe Astruc announced Wednesday, December 13, during a press conference, the opening of an investigation into attempted intentional homicide, after the attempted knife attack on a teacher by a student at the Hautes-Ourmes college, south of Rennes, Wednesday morning around 10 a.m.

The 12-year-old girl, a 5th grade student, is suspected of having threatened her English teacher in the middle of class. She was finally disarmed and subdued by establishment staff in the corridors, before being arrested. She is currently in “detention” because the schoolgirl, aged under 13, cannot be placed in police custody; this measure lasts 12 hours and is renewable once.

“I want to kill students who don’t like me”

According to the prosecutor’s account, “the student allegedly said to his teacher in a low voice: ‘I’m crazy today, I want to kill someone, I want to kill the students who don’t like me, and the person who is in front of me, it happened in Arras, and I’m going to do the same.'”

“She added that she had a weapon, and asked her teacher if she wanted her to show it to her. At that moment, the student took out an imposing knife from his schoolbag. The size of the blade is 17 centimeters.”

Philippe Astruc, public prosecutor of Rennes

at a press conference

“Currently, this minor is in the psychiatric department of Pontchaillou hospital to carry out this psychiatric examination which will allow us to shed further light on this situation”explains the magistrate for whom “psychological or even psychiatric dimension” seemed to him “dominant in the act of this minor”.

A student “returned to school” in September

The young minor comes from a family of four children of Mongolian origin, in France in a regular situation, unknown to the police services, according to the prosecution. This is an “atheist family” specifies the prosecution, in Rennes since 2012. “This student has already become known for behavioral problems. In January of the last school year, she had already showed up at her school with a knife in her schoolbag.”

“There were other incidents and she was the subject of a disciplinary council hearing in June following verbal threats and insults towards a teacher. The council of discipline decided in June to exclude him from his school.”

Philippe Astruc, public prosecutor of Rennes

at a press conference

“National Education then sent us what we call ‘worrying information’”continues the public prosecutor. “This student was returned to school in a new establishment in Rennes, the one in which the events took place this Tuesday morning, at the start of the September school year”explains Philippe Astruc.