Shooting at a secondary school in Aubagne: the danger posed by violent online communities

On 12 October 2026, a 14-year-old boy opened fire at Joseph-Lakanal Secondary School in Aubagne (Bouches-du-Rhône), injuring the headteacher and a teacher. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) has taken charge of the investigation and states that the suspect’s alleged membership of the True Crime Community (TCC), a loose network of online communities that glorify mass killings. A case that highlights the mechanisms of’hold and from the trivialisation of violence to which children and teenagers may be exposed online. This phenomenon is analysed by Véronique Béchu, Director of the e-Enfance / 3018 Association’s Observatory. 

Communities that exploit teenagers’ need for recognition

The True Crime Community (TCC) is not limited to platforms where images of crimes are shared. It brings together various online communities, within which the’Admiration for the perpetrators of mass killings can become a marker of belonging. Members may progress from mere curiosity to the glorification of criminal acts, such as the Columbine High School massacre in the United States in 1999. In the most extreme groups, Acting on one’s impulses is presented as a means of achieving status and ultimate recognition.

A process that begins with repeated exposure to violent content, sometimes stumbled upon by chance on the internet or shared by peers. As teenagers view increasingly extreme images, their sensitivity to violence diminishes. In his interview for Le Nouvel Obs, Véronique Béchu explains that their «The threshold for acceptance and shock gradually decreases as their brains become accustomed to violence and normalise what they see». The need to belong plays a key role. During adolescence, the the search for recognition and acceptance makes some young people, who are already vulnerable, more susceptible to the promises made by these communities. Véronique Béchu explains that…’ «During adolescence, young people need recognition, attention and validation, and are particularly vulnerable. Members of these small groups exploit this.». 

The Association’s Observatory and the 3018: understanding violence to better protect minors 

The Aubagne case highlights the’the importance of documenting violent online communities and gaining a better understanding of their impact on minors. This is, in particular, the role of the Association’s Observatory, which analyses new digital abuses, as well as the mechanisms used to recruit young people and exert influence over them. Although exposure to this content mainly affects teenagers aged between 11 and 17, it can affect any child who is online. This was the case for an 8-year-old child who called 3018 for help after viewing content gore extremely violent on a WhatsApp group.

Faced with ever-increasing levels of online violence, The response cannot be solely judicial; it must also involve raising awareness. This is the work undertaken by the Association and its Observatory to better prevention online risks, document the development of this violence and support minors who are victims of online abuse, as well as the adults around them.

The 3018 helpline supports young people who are victims, witnesses or perpetrators of cyberbullying or online abuse – such as exposure to distressing or violent content – as well as their families and professionals.

It is free, anonymous and confidential, and is available 7 days a week, from 9 am to 11 pm. 

📞By telephone

🗨️Via chat on the’App 3018

___________________

For further information:

Shooting at a secondary school in Aubagne: what is the ‘True Crime Community’, which the 14-year-old suspect is said to have joined?  Ouest France | 13 October 2026

Shooting at Aubagne secondary school: “In the true crime community, the ultimate recognition is to be the perpetrator of a mass shooting” Le Nouvel Obs | 14 October 2026 

Aubagne: the terrifying shadow of ultra-violent nihilism Le Journal du Dimanche | 17 October 2026