France rolls out 'mobile security force' for troubled schools

French Education Minister Nicole Belloubet on Friday announced the creation of a national "mobile force" to be deployed to schools facing security issues. The move comes amid a spate of death threats directed at teaching staff.

A police officer patrols outside the Gambetta high school in Arras, north-eastern France, during an evacuation over a bomb threat on 16 October 2023, three days after a teacher was killed and two other people were wounded in a knife attack at the school. © AFP / DENIS CHARLET

"This school force will enable struggling establishments to address difficulties over a long period, and is meant to reassure teachers" and education staff, she said during a visit to a vocational high school in Bordeaux, where staff recently faced threats.

According to French press agency AFP, the minister's office said that the team would consist of "around 20 agents from the National Education system".

The team will be operational from the beginning of the 2024 school year, in September.

In the event of a crisis, "it can be deployed nationwide within 48 hours" if local school authorities need additional support, she said.

Hijab row

Schools can already call in "mobile security teams" under a regional system that was established in 2009.

The new unit comes after the principal of the Maurice-Ravel High School in Paris resigned over threats he received after asking a Muslim student to remove her headscarf.

A complaint filed by the girl against the principal was dismissed, but he chose to step down, citing safety reasons.

• School principal resigns after receiving death threats in hijab row
• French schools sent threatening messages and beheading videos, says ministry

Messaging suspended

As a result of repeated threats sent via the internal electronic messaging system for schools, the education ministry said the platform would be suspended until further notice.

Hundreds of middle and high schools have been targeted by hacking of the ENT messaging system, prompting the decision to deactivate it to prevent more of what Belloubet called "malicious acts".

According to the ministry, 340 schools have received threats since the middle of last week. Some schools were temporarily evacuated, and one teenager was arrested in relation to the hacks.

(with newswires)