« We were in training, someone came to our door to tell us: “You have to go out, it's not an exercise.” » Bernadette Denoyelle, BTS management professor, admits not having believed it right away, then she saw the deployment of the police outside and then, she understood. The entire area was cordoned off around the Picasso high school in Avion, because shortly before 11 a.m. this Thursday, the establishment received a call from an individual presenting himself as a student. He claimed to have planted a bomb in a classroom and wanted to take students hostage.
An arrest
The high school and its just under four hundred students were evacuated, sometimes in panic. Three people who suffered an anxiety attack were also treated by emergency services. Christina Gigney, professor of economics and management, explains: “ I was on break when someone came to tell me in the hallway that one of my students had planted a bomb in my class. It was a shock to hear my name associated with that! The student in question is not aggressive, he is kind and smiling, but we knew that he no longer wanted to be there. He asked to be redirected. We support him in his efforts. For the moment, we do not know if it was he who made this call. »
As the information begins to circulate, parents flock in, cell phones attached to their ears, worry on their faces. Security perimeter requires, the marking prevents them from approaching the school. Uniforms ensure that this is respected.
Firefighters, SMUR and police officers arrived quickly on the scene. Doubts have been lifted, notably thanks to dogs specialized in detecting explosive devices. It made it possible to eliminate any risk: it was a false alarm. Around 12:15 p.m., the system was lifted and the students, until then parked between strips of tape, were authorized to return to the establishment for half-boarders and to return home for day students. Some people have fun with the situation. Others are still in shock and let the tears flow. The two hours of lunch break will not be too much before resuming classes at 2 p.m.
An investigation has been opened. The Arras public prosecutor's office confirmed the arrest of a minor. Verifications concerning it are in progress.
