Southern France Mourns School Shootings

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A gunman opened fire at a Jewish school in Toulouse, France Monday, killing one adult and three children. This attack is the third in ten days in southwest France. French President Nicolas Sarkozy called this latest shooting a “national tragedy” and asked for a minute’s silence in French schools Monday.

On March 11th, a soldier on a motorbike was shot and killed by a helmeted rider, and last Thursday, two soldiers were shot dead and another injured by a man wearing a black motorcycle helmet in Montauban, approximately 31 miles from Toulouse. All three soldiers were of North African origin.

Monday’s tragedy may be connected to the other two shootings, but French authorities are not publicly making that statement. All three incidences involved a shooter riding a motorcycle or scooter, wearing a black helmet. Interior ministry spokesman, Pierre-Henry Brandet, said “Even if it’s too early to say whether or not they are the weapons, there are similarities.”

Details are emerging about the Toulouse shooting. Three of the victims are a teacher and his two children, while the fourth victim was the daughter of the director of the school. This attack is the third of its kind in 10 days: a helmeted shooter, shooting and killing ethnic minorities.

The gunman was close enough to his victims to shoot them in the head, according to local French journalist, Gil Bousquet. Sarkozy flew to the school, where he stated that everything possible must be done “so the killer is arrested.” Sarkozy also offered his sympathies to families who were gathered outside Ozar Hatorah school, embracing one another and weeping.

Sarkozy made certain people understand exactly what was lost today, saying “And of course our thoughts are with these families that are shattered-a mother who has lost her husband and her two children the same day, the director of the school saw his little girl die before his eyes.”

The Interior Ministry has ordered police across the country to contact Jewish organizations to arrange increased vigilance, Brandet said. Since 2011, France, which has one of the largest Jewish populations in Europe, has reported 389 acts of anti-Semitism. Ronald Lauer, president of the World Jewish Congress made a statement, saying “Today, Jews everywhere in the world are weeping in sorrow and disgust in the face of this despicable act. Targeting children is a particularly sick and vile act, and nothing can justify it.”

Please stay with Mad Mike’s America as we continue to update this horrific tragedy. Our thoughts and tears go out to the French people, and we hope the killer or killers are found quickly and brought to justice. Ronald Lauer is correct; targeting children is a vile act, one of cowardice and evil. No parent, anywhere, in any situation, should ever have to watch their child die from an act of violence.

CNN contributed to this report.

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