Teacher stabbed to death at school

A TEACHER has been stabbed to death in front of her pupils on the last day of the school year.

The unnamed victim, 34, was attacked shortly after 9am today, at Edouard Herriot school in Albi, Tarn.

She received a single stab wound to her abdomen and died at 11.30am.

A 47-year-old woman, believed to be the mother of a pupil at the school, has been taken into custody.

President François Hollande expressed “dismay” at this “abominable drama” in a statement.

He said he had asked education minister Benoît Hamon to head to the scene immediately.

“All government departments have been mobilised to support the children and staff who witnessed this horrible tragedy," added Mr Hollande, who also, "assured the family of the victim his solidarity."

An education ministry spokesman confirmed Mr Hamon had cancelled his prior engagements and travelled to Albi, and said: “This tragedy confirms the need to guard against violence in and around schools, to protect teachers and students."

Edouard Herriot is school for children from kindergarten to primary school age, and has 284 children on its roll.

Albi’s prosecutor Claude Derens said he would hold a press conference this afternoon.