The incident at Lycée Sévigné in Tourcoing, Northern France, escalated when a teacher asked a female student to remove her religious veil before leaving the school, resulting in a physical confrontation.

Following the altercation, the student was taken into police custody on Monday evening after allegedly slapping the teacher, who retaliated by slapping her back.

She was arrested around 6:40 PM and held in custody until her court appearance on Wednesday morning.

The 18-year-old student faces charges of violence resulting in less than eight days of temporary incapacity and making threats against a public service worker.

Education Minister Anne Genetet announced that a complaint has been filed, and the student is banned from attending school until a disciplinary council convenes.

Mobile security teams have been deployed to the school, and classes were suspended for two days to facilitate staff discussions and support.

Genetet emphasized the importance of respecting teachers and their authority, highlighting a collective responsibility to support them.

The student, who fled the scene after the incident, was apprehended later that evening at her parents' home.

The court hearing has been postponed to December 11 to allow the student time to prepare her defense.

In response to the incident, the school administration has temporarily excluded the student pending a disciplinary hearing, while a review of surveillance footage is underway.

Political figures, including former Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, expressed support for the teacher and condemned violence against educators, stressing the need to uphold secularism in education.

During her immediate appearance hearing, the student expressed remorse for her actions, stating, 'I am sorry for the blows I may have inflicted on this teacher,' while denying making threatening remarks.