A routine Monday morning turned into a harrowing ordeal at the Clément-Roassal preschool in central Nice after an illegal immigrant mother with a deportation order armed with a handgun and a knife held the school principal and a classroom teacher hostage inside an administrative office, physically assaulting them and simulating execution-style gunshots.
The incident unfolded shortly after 8:40 a.m. at the school located on Rue Clément-Roassal. The suspect, a 36-year-old woman and illegal immigrant whose two children attend the school, arrived requesting an urgent meeting with the principal regarding a dispute involving one of her daughters. After being escorted to the office by the facility’s security guard, the situation rapidly escalated into violence.
Once inside the office, the woman brandished a handgun and a knife. According to law enforcement reports and initial witness accounts, the suspect pointed the firearm directly at the head of one victim and twice pulled the trigger in a simulated execution maneuver, which involved manipulating the action and dry-firing the weapon, according to French outlet NiceMag.
She then held the knife against the principal’s throat and demanded that the specific classroom teacher involved in the dispute be brought to the room. When the teacher arrived, the suspect cocked the firearm, aimed it at her, and subjected both educators to physical violence. The teacher was slapped repeatedly, while the principal sustained injuries resulting in severe jaw pain.
During the altercation, the mother made unverified claims regarding an alleged sexual assault of her child. Educational staff confirmed they had no prior knowledge of any such allegations, and authorities noted there was no record of an official complaint having been filed.
The suspect fled the school premises shortly before 10:00 a.m. Municipal police immediately initiated a search, utilizing the city’s extensive CCTV surveillance network to track her movements.
Officers located the suspect on nearby Rue Trachel. She had reportedly changed her clothing and was walking with her two children. National Police officers arrested her without further incident and placed her into custody at the Auvare police station. A preliminary search at the scene of the arrest yielded no weapons.
Investigators later confirmed that the suspect is residing in France illegally and is currently subject to an active deportation order (OQTF).
Local officials and education authorities rushed to the scene to support the staff and reassure anxious parents. Mayor of Nice Éric Ciotti personally visited the school following the incident and confirmed the details of the attack to reporters:
“A firearm was used. I do not know yet if it was a replica or a real gun. A knife was also used,” Ciotti stated, emphasizing the trauma experienced by the staff. “They are terribly shocked.”
He also posted to X: “I was able to go to the Clément Roassal school after the events occurred, and I want to reassure the students’ parents. The alleged female perpetrator was arrested by the National Police, with the support of our Municipal Police. We remain fully mobilized alongside the educational community to ensure everyone’s safety.”
J’ai pu me rendre à l’école Clément Roassal après les faits survenus et je tiens à rassurer les parents d’élèves.
L’autrice présumée a été interpellée par la Police nationale, avec le soutien de notre Police municipale.
Nous restons pleinement mobilisés aux côtés de la communauté éducative pour assurer la sécurité de tous.
— Eric Ciotti (@eciotti) November 2, 2026Mayor Ciotti also sought to relieve concern among parents regarding student safety:
“No students witnessed these scenes; no students were involved or harmed,” he stated.
Both the principal and the teacher filed formal criminal complaints at the Auvare station. The public prosecutor of Nice categorized the assault as a “grave incident” and confirmed that an active investigation is underway.
