A 20-year-old Chechen has been arrested in the French city of Arras for killing one teacher and injuring several others in a knife attack at a local school, with police confirming that he was on the terrorist watchlist.
The broadcaster BFMTV reports that the attack took place just after 11 a.m. local time at the Gambetta High School in Arras, located in the northern Pas-de-Calais region and saw the alleged suspect stab several people with a knife, killing one of the teachers at the school, believed to be a literature teacher.
Witnesses claim that the man yelled “Allahu akbar” during the attack and police have since confirmed that he was known for Islamic radicalism and was on the French terror watchlist known as the S-File.
Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin confirmed shortly after noon that the 20-year-old Chechen had been arrested by police along with his brother, who was taken into custody near a different high school.
The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office took over the investigation less than two hours after the attack and has opened an investigation into a murder in connection with terrorism, confirming that authorities believe the incident was motivated by terror.
The National Directorate of the Judicial Police (SDAT), the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DNPJ) and the Directorate General of Internal Security (DGSI) are also said to be involved in the investigation.
Top French politicians, including President Emmanuel Macron, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, Minister of National Education Gabriel Attal and others have also stated they would be heading to Arras to visit the site of the attack.
While French authorities seem to believe the attack was a terrorist incident, it is unknown if it is related to calls by former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal made earlier this week in which he encouraged Muslims around the world to take to the streets in support for Palestine and Hamas in their war against Israel for a “Day of Jihad.”
The attack also bears striking similarity to the killing of teacher Samuel Paty in October of 2020, who was also killed by a Chechen national who beheaded the teacher after Paty had shown images of the prophet Mohammed to his class as part of a lesson on freedom of expression. The attack comes just three days before the anniversary of the killing of Paty.
