ANTIBES, France (BN24) — A man who stabbed a teacher and a student at a horticultural high school in the southern French town of Antibes was arrested Wednesday, police confirmed, as authorities investigate the motive behind the attack.
The incident took place at the Campus Vert d’Azur, a horticultural and agricultural school located in Antibes, a coastal town nestled between Cannes and Nice. Police said the attacker was a former student at the institution but declined to provide further details about his identity or possible motives.
“The attacker has been arrested; he is no longer a threat,” a police spokesperson said.
Three people were injured during the stabbing, according to Antibes Mayor Jean Leonetti. He noted that one person was more seriously wounded, while the others suffered less severe injuries. “None of the injuries amounts to an absolute emergency,” he added.
French daily Le Monde reported that the teacher sustained serious injuries, while the student was only superficially wounded.
“A knife attack occurred today at the Azur Vert Campus in Antibes,” Leonetti wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “I firmly condemn this brutal assault, which unfortunately spares no territory in our country. Three people were injured, one more seriously, but none is in absolute emergency.”
Leonetti praised the response of the school staff, saying the attacker was subdued thanks to the “remarkable composure” of the school principal and employees. He also expressed gratitude to police and firefighters for their swift and professional response.
The motive for the attack remains under investigation. Police and forensic teams remained at the scene throughout the afternoon, gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.
France’s Minister of Agriculture condemned the violence, writing in a statement on X: “A teacher and a student were brutally attacked in a horticultural high school in Antibes. I offer my full support to the victims, their loved ones, the students, and the entire educational community. I am heading to the scene immediately. The school must remain a republican sanctuary: violence has no place there and will never be tolerated.”
Alpes-Maritimes regional senator Alexandra Borchio-Fontimp also offered her support to the victims, stating, “My thoughts go to the teacher and the student, victims of this terrible attack. Thank you to the security forces for their responsiveness which enabled the arrest of the assailant.”
Antibes, a town known for its historic old quarter and luxury marina, is rarely the site of such violence. The attack has reignited national concerns over security in educational institutions, as officials vow to ensure that schools remain safe spaces.
