Moments of terror in France. Two little girls they were six and 11 years old stabbed near a primary school in Souffelweyersheim, near Strasbourg. The news was released by the broadcaster Bfmtv, according to which the attacker was stopped and the victims were taken to hospital with minor injuries. The attack occurred around 2pm. According to what was reported by Le Figarothe man arrested by the police is believed to be a 28-year-old of European origin identified as Antoine M. The motive for the crime is still unknown.
Gendarmerie sources cited by Afp reported that the subject ended up in handcuffs “it is not known to the services” is that “his motivations do not appear to be linked to radicalisation“. A source close to the case also specified that the man suffers from a certain “mental fragility” and has already spent “several stays” in a psychiatric ward, only to stop treatment in November. It also appears that he had been missing since last night and had attempted suicide in 2022. At the time of his arrest, which occurred approximately ten minutes later the attack in the Rue de l’Ecole square, the 28-year-old was not in possession of the weapon used to wound the two girls. He did not resist the five gendarmes who stopped him. The authorities have opened an investigation.
According to what was reported by a municipal councillor, all the students of the institute outside which the stabbing occurred were initially locked inside the structure to security reasons. “I’m very Afraid. We have been reassured, the children are safe inside, but we don’t know when we will be able to have them back“said the mother of one of the children. “I have an eight year old. He called me a friend, she saw the confusion in front of the school as she passed. She inquired and her instinct was to call me to come and get my son“. Parents were allowed to collect their children around 4pm.
“The police have clarified all doubts, the children are safe and there is no longer any danger. Everything was done very professionally. All plans were implemented and the children were immediately taken to safety“, Jean-Baptiste Peyrat, chief of staff of the Bas-Rhin prefecture, told those present. On site, in addition to a flying team security, the rector of the Strasbourg education authority and the academic director of the national educational services also arrived.
A unit of medical emergency and psychological was set up at the institute.
