Fatal Knife Attack at Nantes High School: What We Know About Justin P., a 16-Year-Old Student

On Thursday, April 24, 2025, around 12:30 p.m., a knife attack shook the private Catholic school Notre-Dame-de-Toutes-Aides in Nantes, western France. A 16-year-old student in 10th grade (Seconde) stabbed four of his classmates. One female student died from her injuries, while another remains in critical condition. Two others were more lightly wounded.

The suspected attacker, identified as Justin P., was subdued by a school staff member before being arrested by police. He was armed with two knives — including a hunting knife — and carried a fake gun in his backpack. He had also covered part of his face with a dark cloth and wore a helmet and sunglasses.

A Premeditated Act?

Just minutes before the assault, Justin P. reportedly sent a 13-page document to several students at the school. Entitled “Immune Action”, the text, written in polished language, blends philosophical reflections with strong denunciations of globalization, environmental destruction, and “social totalitarian conditioning.” The document ends with an analysis of Pieter Brueghel’s 1568 painting The Misanthrope, calling for resistance, rebellion, and awareness.

Investigators are working to determine whether this was a manifesto foreshadowing the attack. According to sources close to the investigation, the suspect first assaulted a female student on the school’s second floor, then attacked three more students in a nearby classroom. One officer on the scene reported he had “stormed two classrooms.”

A Troubling but Previously Unknown Profile

Justin P., aged 16, was not known to police, justice authorities, or intelligence services. Classmates describe him as withdrawn and quiet, but also unsettling in his behavior. Several students say he often shared extremist content — including Nazi propaganda — on social media, sometimes jokingly.

Some of his acquaintances report that he warned them days in advance via Snapchat: “You’ll see me very soon — on TV.” He then blocked them and cut off communication.

Hospitalized in Psychiatric Care

During police custody, the suspect remained silent and unresponsive. A psychiatric evaluation determined that he was not fit for custody, and he was subsequently transferred to a psychiatric hospital. Authorities must now assess whether he was mentally sound at the time of the attack — a crucial factor in whether he will stand trial.

A press conference from the public prosecutor is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. to provide further details about the investigation and the suspect’s background.