A 14-year-old French boy hid a shotgun in a guitar case and brought it to school, shooting at the principal and teachers. Investigations revealed that he had been exposed to a online community that worshipped mass killers for a long time.
According to AFP, on October 12 local time, a shooting incident occurred at Joseph Lacanar School in Oubagne, near Marseille in southern France. A 14-year-old boy used a shotgun hidden in a guitar case to shoot, causing injuries to the school principal and one teacher.
The prosecution stated that the suspect first shot at the first floor of the teaching building, hitting the legs of the principal and a teacher. Then, he went to the second floor and fired again, with one of the shots entering a classroom where students were present. Eventually, a school staff member subdued the suspect in the stairwell, and the police then arrested him.
Two injured persons were sent to the hospital and neither is in life-threatening condition.
On October 15th, French anti-terrorism prosecutors reported that the suspect has been formally investigated for attempted murder related to terrorism and other charges, and is in custody.
The suspect admitted to the shooting, stating that he was bullied by teachers and classmates, and expressed a desire to retaliate. However, the prosecution stated that no evidence has been found to prove his claim of being bullied.
Investigators also found that the suspect had access to a online community known as the “True Crime Community”. Some members of this community are keen on spreading extreme violent content, and even glorifying mass killers, encouraging imitation of crime.
The suspect admitted being influenced by this community, but denied representing the community in carrying out the attack.
French counter-terrorism prosecutors believe that the suspect planned this action for several months, entered the campus with a gun, and fired at faculty and staff multiple times. This indicates a clear premeditation, hence they have decided to investigate the incident as a terrorist case.
