In a chilling turn of events, France’s Prime Minister has raised the country’s counter-terrorism alert to its highest level in response to a deadly attack involving a knife at an Arras school, Northern France. The assailant, who left a teacher dead and two others gravely wounded, was reportedly overheard shouting “Allahu Akbar” or “God is greatest” during his rampage. Presently, he resides in custody.
This particular protocol, the “attack emergency” level, has been enforced in past counter-terror scenarios leading to enhanced security deployments and warnings to the public. As part of the response, the French authorities mobilised 7,000 servicemen for additional security patrols on Saturday. Popular attractions such as the Louvre Museum in Paris chose to close their doors as an extra measure of caution.
Police indicated that the Palace of Versailles was also evacuated over the weekend following a bomb threat. An unidentified source mentioned that the alert was triggered by an anonymous online threat, leading to a mandatory closure of the palace for the remainder of the day.
The Gambetta high school attack on Friday, which occurred around 11:00 local time (09:00 GMT), has further escalated the already volatile relations between France’s substantial Muslim and Jewish communities. This comes amidst the current conflict between Israel and Hamas. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin highlighted a possible link between the Arras attack and the Israel-Hamas standoff.
The assailant, identified as 20-year-old Russian national Mohamed Mogouchkov, is a known figure within the security services due to his participation in Islamist extremism. The former student at the school had raised alarm among teachers due to his extremist language. In conjunction with the capture of Mogouchkov, the police detained several family members, including his mother, a sister, a 17-year-old brother, and an uncle.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne triggered the counter-terrorism alert in an emergency security meeting with President Emmanuel Macron. Macron, in a visit to the Arras school post-attack, denounced the “barbarity of Islamist terrorism” and urged French citizens to remain united against such terror.
The fallen victim was a French language teacher who was tragically stabbed in the throat and chest. Another teacher and a security guard, who is now critically ill with multiple knife wounds, are currently receiving treatment. A cleaner also suffered minor injuries during the attack, but, fortunately, no children were hurt. Macron praised the fallen teacher’s brave gesture of shielding others, claiming his actions saved more lives.
Martin Dousseau, a fellow teacher, recounted the horrific event as a moment of panic. The armed assailant targeted the canteen staff but also chased him, asking if he was a history and geography teacher.
This horrific incident draws uneasy parallels with the murder and beheading of teacher Samuel Paty, which occurred nearly three years ago at a school outside Paris. An 18-year-old Muslim refugee, Abdullakh Anzorov, carried out the dreadful act and was later killed by the police. France has been the target of a series of Islamic attacks in recent years, none more devastating than the November 2015 attack when armed individuals and suicide bombers targeted entertainment spots and cafes in Paris, leaving 130 people dead. This attack was claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group.
