Mortar fire erupted at a French high school, injuring two students. Authorities say the shooter was not a student and is under investigation.
Mortar fire at high school
Mortar fire was reported at Germaine-Tillion-de-Montbéliard high school in the Doubs department on Friday, October 16, during a break between classes. Incident details and timing
According to the prosecutor of Montbéliard, Paul-Édouard Lallois, as reported by BFM, one or two mortar shells were fired from the courtyard of the school. The incident occurred around 10 o'clock. Suspect not a student
The person who fired the mortars is "probably" not a student from the school, Lallois explained, adding that the individual entered the school when the gate was open. The firing took place from the door of a covered area, which is a common part of the school. Injuries and response
Two students were taken to the infirmary after experiencing "shock" or "tinnitus," but there were no serious injuries, and firefighters were not deployed. Legal actions initiated
An investigation has been opened for "violence with a weapon," and the Montbéliard prosecutor's office has also opened an investigation under the charges of "unauthorized entry into a school establishment" and "violence with a weapon." Not linked to protests
According to Lallois, this act "does not fit into the student protest movement," as the schools in Montbéliard, including the Germaine-Tillion high school, have not been mobilized for several days already. Investigation underway
The prosecutor told BFM that the surveillance footage will be analyzed to identify the person responsible for the firing. Investigations are still ongoing to determine exactly where the mortar landed, although it seems that it was fired toward the courtyard. Police still on site
In the afternoon, police were still present on the school grounds.
