PARIS: A 15-year-old boy in France has succumbed to injuries sustained in a vicious assault by a group of individuals shortly after a music lesson at school. The boy’s tragic death marks the second serious attack on a school student in France within the span of a week, prompting widespread condemnation and calls for action.
According to Le Monde, the assault took place in the town of Viry-Chatillon, approximately 20 km south of Paris. Regional prosecutor Gregoire Dulin said a murder investigation has been launched in the aftermath of the incident, which occurred on Thursday.
Reports from the scene indicate that the boy was set upon by masked youths who subjected him to a brutal assault before fleeing the area. He was discovered in a street not far from his school and subsequently rushed to the Necker pediatric hospital in Paris. He died of his wounds early on Friday afternoon, a prosecutor said.
Describing the attackers as “the worst kind of thugs,” Viry-Chatillon Mayor Jean-Marie Vilain lamented the prevalence of extreme violence in society, urging authorities to utilize surveillance footage to apprehend the perpetrators.
The tragic incident comes just days after another shocking attack on a teenage girl outside her school in the southern city of Montpellier. The 13 or 14-year-old victim, who briefly fell into a coma, suffered serious injuries in the assault. Three individuals, including a fellow school pupil who has confessed to her involvement, have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of a minor in connection with the case.
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking during a visit to a primary school in Paris, expressed grave concern over the recent spate of violence targeting schoolchildren.
Stressing the imperative of safeguarding schools as sanctuaries for children, families, and educators, Macron vowed unwavering resolve against all forms of violence, and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into both incidents to shed light on the underlying causes and ensure justice for the victims.
