The children were in the process of being dropped off at the Charles Fourier nursery school in the northern city of Besancon, France. There were 20 children in the class, ages 4-6, as well as a teacher in the room when a 17-year-old teenager stormed the classroom and took everyone hostage using two swords. The mentally-disturbed teenager took the entire nursery school class hostage with just two swords, prompting a police stand-off.
The Charles Fourier school is in the Planoise district of Besancon, a city officially labeled a sensitive urban zone by French officials due to its high unemployment, high immigrant population, and high poverty. Besancon and Planoise were highly affected by the French riots last year, and we all know how rough French riots can get.
Police said of the swordsman hostage-taker, “He was waving his sabres in the air and headed straight for the children. They had just arrived ready for a day’s classes. Many of their parents were still in the building having just dropped the children off. The man let five of the children out at 10am, and others were released soon afterwards. Elite tactical police were called immediately. There are currently at least five children in the classroom, together with their teacher.”
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