France charges 14-year-old over Aubagne school shooting

French authorities charged a 14-year-old with attempted murder and remanded him in custody after a school shooting in Aubagne, near Marseille, that wounded a principal and a teacher, prosecutors said.

The teenager carried out the attack on Monday, October 12, at a middle school for 11- to 15-year-olds, using small hunting pellets. The anti-terrorism prosecutor's office said he told investigators he wanted revenge because of bullying by teachers and classmates, but said the investigation had not so far shown such harassment.

The office said the teenager admitted being influenced by an online subculture that celebrates mass shootings such as those in the United States, but said he did not act in its name.

Prosecutors said the boy entered the school dressed in black and wearing gloves. They said he had concealed a firearm, a scarf, three balaclavas, three fleece jackets and a mobile phone in a guitar case.

A person following the case, speaking anonymously, said the teenager had also carried live ammunition. Another person following the case said he did not express regret.

His lawyer, Fabrice Giletta, said the teenager did not intend to kill and argued that he aimed at non-vital parts of the victims' bodies. Giletta said the boy was becoming aware of the seriousness of what he had done.

The incident is not thought to be linked to nationwide high school protests demanding better learning conditions. France has seen several violent school incidents in recent months, including knife attacks that wounded teachers and pupils and killed a teaching assistant.