France eyes social media ban for under-15s after school stabbing

French authorities propose social media ban for under-15s and knife sale ban to minors after tragic school murder.

French authorities have announced plans to ban social media for under-15s and the sale of knives to minors after the murder of a teaching assistant by a 14-year-old boy plunged the country into shock.

A secondary school pupil was arrested on Tuesday (June 10, 2025) after killing a 31-year-old school assistant with a knife during a bag search in Nogent in eastern France.

Friends and well-wishers left flowers and messages of support in front of the secondary school struck by the tragedy. "We share your pain," read one message.

Laurence Raclot, who knew the teaching assistant, Melanie, said she was "stunned". "She was great with kids," Ms. Raclot said. "In a quiet little town, we never would have thought this could happen."

A former hairdresser, Melanie had retrained and worked at the school since September. She was the mother of a four-year-old boy and a councillor in a village near Nogent. "There are no words," added another local, Sabrina Renault. "It's really sad for her whole family, for that little boy who's left without his mum."

Pupils and parents were seen entering and leaving the school, where a psychological support unit has been set up.

The suspect will remain in police custody for a further 24 hours, until Thursday (June 12, 2025) morning, a police source told AFP on Wednesday (June 11, 2025). Little information has been released about his motive.