Pupil detained after two teachers shot and injured at a French middle school

A 14-year-old male pupil has been apprehended following a rare school shooting at Joseph Lakanal middle school in Aubagne, France, on Monday, October 12, 2026. The incident resulted in injuries to the 53-year-old principal and a 37-year-old female teacher, both of whom sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds to their lower limbs. The suspect reportedly used a 12-gauge hunting shotgun, which he had concealed within a guitar case.

Authorities reported that a staff member at the school successfully disarmed the student before police arrived and took him into custody. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and officials have stated that there is no immediate indication it is connected to ongoing high school protests in France concerning school conditions.

Following the incident, mental health counseling is being offered to the pupils of the school. Education Minister Édouard Geffray and Interior Minister Laurent Nunez are scheduled to visit the scene near Marseille. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his solidarity with those affected, commending the school staff's calm and effective response.