In reaction to the horrific stabbing of a teacher in an apparent Islamist attack, French President Emmanuel Macron has declared the mobilization of 7,000 soldiers due to the country activating its highest alert level. This violent incident took place on Friday at a high school in Arras and was perpetrated by 18-year-old Mohammed Mogouchkov who allegedly attacked three individuals, causing the death of a teacher.
According to a report by Euronews, an anti-terrorist investigation has been launched by the French authorities. Witnesses state that the attacker shouted “Allahu Akbar” – an Arabic phrase meaning “God is great” – during the incident.
Following this event, Macron visited the school and addressed the populace, emphasising unity in the face of “the barbarity of Islamist terrorism”. This comes in the wake of Macron’s recent commentary on the conflict in the Middle East. In a recent address, Macron stressed the need to bolster measures safeguarding schools, places of worship, and cultural institutions. He mentioned that a total of 582 establishments had already seen an increase in security, with the engagement of 10,000 officers and gendarmes as part of Operation Sentinel.
The French Interior Minister Gérald Darminin supported these actions. In a bold move on Thursday, Darminin announced a ban on pro-Palestinian rallies. When the ban was protested, French police used tear gas and water cannons to scatter the unauthorised demonstrations, leading to at least 20 arrests.
The original coverage of this news can be found on Jurist News.