# French teen's school shooting linked to online killing cult

> A 14-year-old opened fire at a middle school near Marseille, wounding the headmaster and a teacher. Counter-terrorism prosecutors say he was inspired by an online community that glorifies mass killers.
- Title: French teen's school shooting linked to online killing cult
- Summary: A 14-year-old opened fire at a middle school near Marseille, wounding the headmaster and a teacher. Counter-terrorism prosecutors say he was inspired by an…
- Keywords: school shooting, aubagne, marseille, france, counter terrorism, true crime community, online radicalisation, news, world, French, teen's, school
- Source: RFI — https://rfi.fr/en/france/20261013-french-counter-terrorism-body-to-investigate-14-year-old-behind-school-shooting
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: school shooting, aubagne, marseille, france, counter terrorism, true crime community, online radicalisation, news, world
## Fourteen year old opens fire at school
A fourteen year old boy opened fire with a hunting gun at Joseph-Lakanal middle school in Aubagne, near Marseille, on Monday, wounding the headmaster and a teacher. A third person was grazed by gunfire.
## Gun hidden in guitar case
The suspect carried a guitar case into the school and removed a long gun from it.He fired at least four shots, including inside a classroom with teachers and pupils, leaving a mark on a blackboard.
## Counter terrorism takes over investigation
France's national counter terrorism prosecutor's office took over the case after initial investigations revealed the suspect's probable adherence to the True Crime Community movement, an online ecosystem glorifying mass killers.

> an ecosystem of online communities that glorifies perpetrators of mass killings and, in some instances, incites the use of extreme violence
## Suspect targeted teachers, not pupils
A pupil named Sarah told AFP the gunman said: I've only come for the teachers, not for the pupils.The headmaster was hit by pellets in the thighs and lower back.

> I've only come for the teachers, not for the pupils
## Staff disarmed shooter, prevented worse
A member of staff disarmed the suspect after he fired at the second teacher. President Emmanuel Macron praised the teaching staff's quick reaction for helping prevent the worst from happening.

> I commend the composure and exemplary response of the teaching staff, which helped to prevent the worst from happening
## Education minister calls for societal response
Education Minister Edouard Geffray said the young man clearly had the intention to kill and the act was premeditated. He called for action against such violence, saying schools cannot treat major violence alone.

> clearly had the intention to kill
## Key takeaway

A fourteen year old shot his school principal and teacher in Aubagne on Monday. Counter terrorism prosecutors took over the case after finding he was influenced by an online movement glorifying mass killings.