Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat – The Gambetta High School in Arras, northern France, where a teacher was fatally stabbed just days ago, was evacuated on Monday morning following a bomb alert.
French teacher Dominique Bernard was tragically stabbed and killed on Friday at the school, prompting the French government to raise the national security level to its highest.
While there were no classes scheduled for Monday, the doors of the high school were open to allow students and staff to pay tribute to the late teacher.
The suspect was identified as 20-year-old Russian national Mohamed Mogouchkov of Chechen origin, who was a former student at the school. Security services said he was associated with Islamist extremism.
President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack as “barbaric Islamic terrorism” and posted a message on social media to express solidarity with the school community.
Amidst the tense situation, police received a bomb threat via its website, leading to the evacuation of the high school, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
Teachers and students were visibly emotional as they left the building, Reuters reported.
A police bomb squad arrived at the scene shortly after to assess the threat.
The prefecture of the northern Pas-de-Calais region said that “all precautionary and safety measures” are being taken until the school is cleared.
Later in the day, a nationwide minute of silence is planned in schools across France to honor Bernard and the victims of the brutal attack. In addition to the late teacher, three other people were wounded in the attack.
France will deploy up to 7,000 soldiers by Monday night to increase security vigilance across the country.
