Eight injured in French school shooting, teen held (Lead)

Paris March 16 (IANS) A 17-year-old student has been arrested after opening fire in a school in the southern French town of Grasse injuring eight persons and prompting the government to issue a terror warning.

The student carrying two hand guns a hunting rifle and two training grenades entered the Alexis de Tocqueville school and opened fire on Thursday morning the local media reported.

The headmaster was among the eight people injured in the attack confirmed the French Interior Ministry. The headmaster was reportedly stabbed in the hand.

The details of the other injuries were unclear reported the Telegraph.

Police have arrested the shooter who was unknown to security services. They said that he had recently viewed videos of American school shootings.

There are unconfirmed reports that police are hunting for a suspected accomplice.

According to the local media the shooting was linked to a dispute between students. It said that two teenagers entered the school and tried to shoot a third student. One of the pair managed to escape.

But other reports said there was only one shooter who appeared to target the headmaster in particular.

Pupils in all schools in Grasse have been confined indoors.

The attack came shortly after a letter bomb exploded at the headquarters of the International Monetary Fund in Paris. It is not clear whether the incidents are linked.

--IANS
soni/bg