PARIS, France – A tragic incident has shaken the community as a 15-year-old boy succumbed to injuries sustained in a violent assault near his school in Viry-Châtillon, located about 20 kilometers south of Paris. The teen was brutally attacked on Thursday, subsequently suffering a cardiac arrest and passing away the following afternoon, according to the public prosecutor’s office. This marks the second disturbing attack on a student within a week, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to address the pressing need for school safety amidst the prevalence of what he described as “uninhibited violence” among youths.
The mayor of Viry-Châtillon, Jean-Marie Vilain, expressed shock and dismay over the tragic event, revealing that the victim, identified as Shamseddine, was attacked by a group of individuals wearing balaclavas while walking home from a music class. Vilain emphasized the disturbing trend of extreme violence becoming increasingly common, calling attention to the urgent need for intervention and support within the community.
Following the fatal assault, a total of five individuals connected to the attack, including three 17-year-olds, a 15-year-old, and a 20-year-old, were taken into police custody for questioning. As the investigation unfolds, authorities are treating the case as a murder and gang assault, highlighting the severity of the incident and the potential implications for those involved.
This tragic incident comes in the wake of another alarming attack on a 14-year-old girl in Montpellier, where she was left in a temporary coma following a violent assault outside her school. Three suspects have been charged with attempted murder in connection to the assault, reflecting a concerning pattern of aggression and harm targeting students in educational settings. In response to these distressing events, President Macron emphasized the critical need for schools to remain safe havens for children and educators, condemning all forms of violence and emphasizing the importance of protecting the educational environment.
In light of the recent wave of threats and attacks on schools across France, the government has taken steps to enhance security measures, with the education minister announcing the establishment of a national “mobile force” to address security concerns in troubled schools. As the community grapples with the tragic loss of the young victim and the broader implications of school violence, efforts to strengthen safety protocols and support systems for students are being prioritized to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.