In Arras, the Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, affirms that college is “the best weapon” towards terrorism | EUROtoday

The faculty is “the best weapon to fight” terrorists, mentioned Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on Monday March 11 in Arras (Pas-de-Calais), on the event of the annual tribute to the victims of terrorism. This is the primary time that this ceremony has been held exterior Paris. The head of presidency wished to arrange it on the Arras citadel in tribute to French instructor Dominique Bernard, killed on October 13, 2023 in entrance of his institution, the Gambetta-Carnot faculty group, by a radicalized former pupil.

“Terrorists hate school, that’s normal: school is the best weapon to fight them”declared the Prime Minister, for whom “the victory of the school will sound the death knell for obscurantism”and particularly “Islamist obscurantism, which wants to destroy our school for its values”. “School is our greatest strength for building a future of harmony, civic-mindedness, peace and respect”, he insisted. So many qualities “which Dominique Bernard embodied, died because he was a teacher, fell because he wanted to protect his school, protect the students”.

The Arras assault revived the reminiscence of historical past and geography instructor Samuel Paty, beheaded close to his faculty, in Yvelines, on October 16, 2020 after displaying his college students caricatures of Mohammed throughout classes on freedom of expression. Two murders which didn’t “nothing by chance”as a result of “school is what elevates”underlined Mr. Attal, who was Minister of National Education on the time of Mr. Bernard's assassination.

Badges of the Legion of Honor

On his arrival, initially of the day, Mr. Attal first went to the institution, which remained open on Monday, to talk with college students after which lecturers, and to resume their “support of the nation”, 5 months after the tragedy. “He told us to stick together”mentioned Silyan, a former pupil of Mr. Bernard. “But we have to move on now”added this 4 yr outdated schoolboy^e. For lecturers, alternatively, “the trauma is still extremely present, the needs of colleagues extremely important”underlined Catherine Piecuch, native supervisor of the FSU union.

The Prime Minister then introduced the Legion of Honor insignia to the 5 folks from the institution who intervened in the course of the assault. “By protecting our school, you protected all of our youth”he mentioned, greeting the ” courage “ and the “bravery” of “these women and men who have faced death and chosen to face danger to save lives”.

After the official ceremony, punctuated by speeches and musical interludes, in entrance of 600 folks – together with the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, the Minister of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti, and Marine Le Pen (National Rally ), Member of Parliament for Pas-de-Calais – Mr. Attal was then resulting from have lunch with elected officers and representatives of victims’ associations.

A symbolic place

To the interministerial delegation for sufferer help (DIAV), it’s defined that the group of the ceremony exterior Paris is “a fairly old request from associations”that are additionally “very attached” for her to carry herself “in a place where education has been affected”. Emmanuel Macron normally presides over this tribute to Les Invalides, the place a bronze statue was erected symbolizing the phrases of the victims which continues even after their dying. Several associations, nevertheless, deplored not having been concerned within the alternative of location.

This day of tribute has a European dimension since it’s held on the anniversary of the assaults of March 11, 2004 in Madrid (192 useless), twenty years in the past this yr. Last yr, Mr. Macron welcomed the ” dignity “ and the requirement of ” truth “ and D'“humanity” which had marked the trials of the assaults of the previous decade in France, particularly these of Nice and of November 13, 2015.

After the ceremony, Mr. Attal went to see these affected by the floods in Pas-de-Calais, as he has already carried out twice since his arrival in Matignon. In entrance of residents of La Calotterie, the Prime Minister notably promised that the deadline for insurance coverage compensation can be ” divided by two “, from twenty-one days to 10 days most. For pressing work, along side communities, simplification measures shall be maintained for 2 extra months, till May 31, particularly for “facilitate cleaning” waterways, he mentioned.

Severe dangerous climate additionally affected the south-east of France on Sunday, with the dying toll rising to 5 deaths on Monday. In Gard, the physique of a person, who could possibly be that of the daddy lacking together with his two kids since Saturday night, was found. Three victims had beforehand been discovered useless within the division, whereas a fifth physique was present in Hérault. “The nation stands united”reacted on the social community Mr. Attal, thanking “strongly” THE “aid forces (…) on deck and mobilized ».