A 14-year-old student stabbed his music teacher in the face during class at a middle school in Benfeld, France, on September 24, 2025, before fleeing the scene and injuring himself during his arrest.
The student, who authorities say was fascinated with Nazi ideologies and weapons, attacked his teacher with a large kitchen knife in a hallway of the Robert Schuman secondary school.
The female teacher survived the attack and underwent surgery, with French Education Minister Elisabeth Borne confirming her life is not in danger.
However, the 14-year-old student remains in critical condition after stabbing himself in the neck while police arrested him as he attempted to flee on a bicycle.
Strasbourg prosecutor Clarisse Taron revealed that the student had experienced a difficult childhood, having been placed in a host family where he suffered violence before being moved to an institution. Taron indicated that it had been noticed he had an interest in weapons and anything related to World War II, particularly Nazism.
The student had already been sanctioned at the institution and was under psychological monitoring after creating Nazi-themed drawings, including depictions of soldiers making Nazi salutes. He had also been temporarily expelled from the school and faced new disciplinary procedures after drawing SS symbols in a notebook, according to Borne.
Despite these warning signs, Borne emphasized that the student had no documented history of violence. The prosecutor confirmed that the suspect did not attempt to attack other teachers or students before fleeing the scene, suggesting the assault was targeted specifically at the music teacher.
Local news outlet Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace reported that the suspect was arrested shortly after the attack. French broadcaster BFM confirmed that during his arrest, the student stabbed himself and was subsequently hospitalized. The school was evacuated following the incident.
Jacky Wolfarth, mayor of Benfeld, described the incident as isolated when speaking to reporters. The town is located in northeastern France’s Bas-Rhin region, near Strasbourg.
Education Minister Borne responded swiftly to the crisis, stating on social media that she strongly condemned the assault and expressing solidarity with the teacher and school community. She confirmed that an emergency response unit was activated to provide support to students and staff, and that she would visit the scene immediately.
The attack has reignited concerns about security in French schools, which has become a subject of intense national debate in recent years. In June 2025, then-Prime Minister Francois Bayrou announced that the government would test adding security gates at schools following another incident where a school aide was stabbed during a bag search.
The security concerns date back to several high-profile incidents, most notably the 2020 murder of teacher Samuel Paty. Paty was killed after showing pupils caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad during a class on free speech, sparking widespread political controversy and discussions about protecting educators.
French authorities have not provided details about what may have triggered the specific attack on September 24. The prefecture declined to comment on the incident, while the gendarmerie and local prosecutor did not immediately respond to media requests for additional information.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to determine whether additional security measures or policy changes may be needed to prevent similar incidents. The student faces potential charges related to the assault, though his current critical medical condition has complicated legal proceedings.
The teacher remains under medical observation following her surgery, with officials confirming she is in stable condition. The school community continues to receive support services as students and staff process the traumatic events that unfolded during what should have been a routine music class.
