Attack at La Salle College

On March 3, 2025, a young man not affiliated with La Salle College in Nîmes entered the school as the gates were opening. He was searching for a younger person he was pursuing outside the school.

Violent confrontation and injuries

The younger person struck his opponent multiple times and stabbed him in the back. The attack happened in front of many witnesses and students leaving the private college. A 13-year-old girl was seriously injured and taken to the emergency department of the Nîmes University Hospital in critical condition, though her life was not considered at risk.

Witnesses and injuries to staff

A school staff member tried to stop the attacker but was also injured. The staff member had an ITT of three days, indicating the severity of their injuries. The victim had an ITT of 45 days, showing the seriousness of her wounds.

Legal actions and background

The accused was quickly arrested by police and placed in custody for attempted murder and entering the school premises with a weapon. The prosecutor of Nîmes, Cécile Gensac, said the initial evidence suggested that a young girl, who was his girlfriend, had identified the victim for making mocking remarks toward her. She was also placed in custody for complicity in attempted murder.

Previous offenses and court appearance

The 16-year-old accused of inflicting the knife wounds had been involved in two previous criminal cases. The first was resolved with a penal reparative measure, while the second led to a summons before the juvenile court in March 2025 for acts of violence in a group that caused one day of total work incapacity in May 2024.

Court ruling and sentences

On October 19, 2026, the now 17-year-old aggressor appeared before the juvenile court in Nîmes. He had been detained since the incident and was sentenced to five years in prison, three of which must be served, with two years on conditional release. The girl who identified the victim received a one-year prison sentence with conditional release.