The case was transferred to counterterrorism authorities after investigators uncovered the boy's digital activity. They found an account where he had reposted extremely violent content, particularly material related to school shootings. According to prosecutors, the account was linked to the True Crime Community, a network of online groups in which some members glorify mass murderers and encourage imitation of their acts.
The student admitted he had been influenced by the community but denied acting on its behalf. Three investigating judges in Paris were assigned to the case, and prosecutors requested he be held in custody pending further proceedings.
Details of the school attack
The incident took place Monday morning at the Lycée-Collège Joseph Lakanal in Aubagne, near Marseille. The student, who is in the equivalent of ninth grade, entered the building with the firearm concealed inside a guitar case.
According to the initial investigation, he opened fire in a common area on the first floor, hitting the principal and a teacher who were in the hallway. Both were wounded in the lower limbs and taken to hospital. Prosecutors in Marseille said the student then went up to the second floor and fired twice more, once at the floor in the presence of a teacher, and once into a classroom where students were present, with the bullet striking the blackboard. No additional injuries were reported from those shots.
A staff member at the school managed to overpower the boy and disarm him as he was descending the stairs. The principal remained hospitalized, while the wounded teacher was released.
The French newspaper Le Parisien reported that the boy was socially isolated and played the shooting game Call of Duty.
According to a report by TF1, inside the guitar case used to conceal the weapon, investigators found three face masks, three fleece garments, a scarf and a Palestinian keffiyeh, as well as a mobile phone. The items are being examined as part of the investigation.
An initial psychological evaluation found no signs of mental illness, and the boy had no known criminal record.
