France raises security level after school knife attack

BBC: The French government has escalated its counter-terrorism alert to the highest level following a fatal knife attack at a school in Arras, northern France. The attacker, identified as 20-year-old Russian national Mohamed Mogouchkov, stabbed a French language teacher to death and seriously injured two others. He was heard shouting “Allahu Akbar” during the attack and is now in custody. The incident has led to heightened security measures, including the mobilization of 7,000 soldiers and temporary closures of major tourist sites like the Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles due to a bomb threat. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin stated that the attack was linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict, and the attacker was already known to authorities for his involvement in Islamist extremism. Several members of the attacker’s family have also been arrested. President Emmanuel Macron condemned the “barbarity of Islamist terrorism” and called for unity among the French people. This incident follows a series of Islamist attacks in France, including the murder of teacher Samuel Paty nearly three years ago.

The entire article can be read at the link https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67107391