Scene of panic, Friday, November 10, at the Lycée Condorcet in Limay. The Yvelines establishment was the target of mortar fire. Shortly after 10:30 a.m., one or more students set off the fireworks in the hall, while the teenagers were gathered there before classes resumed ten minutes later.
Several of them, frightened by the noise, even thought it was an attack. "We heard a noise that sounded like gunshots but we didn't see where it was coming from, which fuelled the panic," says Nicolas. Some threw themselves to the ground, others ran through the corridors. It lasted ten minutes. We were stuck without knowing what was really going on, we imagined we were in the middle of an attack. »
Videos shared on social media clearly show frightened students screaming and some trying to run away. And others shouting "mortar", "mortar".
Similar incidents a few kilometres away
Once the fear had passed, a certain vagueness reigned for several dozen minutes. And in the early afternoon, the high school students learned that classes were finally suspended for the day. According to the Versailles rectorate, they should resume on Monday. A complaint was lodged by the Ministry of Education.
The police officers of the Mantes-la-Jolie police station should rely on video surveillance as well as on the videos exchanged following the events. "In conjunction with the police and justice services, all elements will be provided in order to identify the troublemakers," the rectorate said.
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This is not the first time that a facility in the area has come under mortar fire. A few weeks ago, the Rostand high school in Mantes-la-Jolie was targeted by similar incidents on several occasions. The vice-principal had even been the target of a mortar that exploded a few dozen centimetres from her. As a reminder, these powerful firecrackers used during fireworks can cause serious injuries and deep burns.
In Mantes-la-Jolie, the arrest of the perpetrator helped to restore calm. "I don't know if there's any kind of competition between some of the students in the two high schools," says Nicolas. But there had been no particular tension in recent days. I wonder if the very tense national context is not fuelling the excitement of some people. »