14-Year-Old Student Premeditates Stabbing of Art Teacher at Sanary-sur-Mer School

On February 3, 2026, a shocking stabbing incident took place at collège La Guicharde in Sanary-sur-Mer, where a 14-year-old student attacked his 60-year-old art teacher with a knife. According to Toulon prosecutor Raphaël Balland, the assault was premeditated and driven by profound hatred from the student towards the teacher. The teacher suffered three knife wounds to the abdomen and one to the forearm and remains in serious condition.

The student was apprehended immediately in the school courtyard and taken into custody on attempted murder charges. During police questioning, he admitted to bringing a knife from home with the explicit intention to harm his teacher, a plan he had contemplated for about a week. The attack was not motivated by any religious or political views but seemed to be fueled by personal grievances and feelings of injustice. The prosecutor noted prior tensions between the teacher and student, likely related to previous disciplinary actions against him.

Though described by some teachers as a disruptive but non-violent pupil, the student had shared his violent intentions beforehand with classmates, even showing them the 12-centimeter Opinel knife he used. Past family issues include a March 2025 judicial intervention due to suspected parental violence against the student's younger sister, resulting in educational assistance measures for both children.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, raising questions among parents and students about school safety and youth behavior. In response, the Minister of Education visited collège La Guicharde on February 4 to offer support and address concerns.

This event highlights the urgency of understanding and addressing student distress and the circumstances that may lead to such violent outbursts in educational environments. Authorities continue to investigate and monitor the situation closely.