GETTY Children have been taught to hide from terrorists in terrifying school drills

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Fake assailants have stormed schools pretending to be Islamic State (ISIS) gunmen in the raids on the schools in France, after jihadis announced children were a potential target. In one petrifying mock attack at a secondary school in Eure-et-Loir, northwest France, the school principal walked around brandishing a fake gun, ignoring the ‘no weapon’ rule imposed by the French government. Three planned drills were announced in August by interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve and education minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, in response to the string of terror attacks in France since January 2015.

But the first security drill – which took place before the October half-term – did not always go as planned, and some children were left deeply traumatised after taking part in the mock attack. One angry parent told the French daily Le Figaro: “They made children as young as three draw terrorists and told them to lie on the floor and play dead.” One teacher told the children that a ‘big bad wolf’ had entered the school premises and told them to hide and remain silent, another mother said.

GETTY Three planned drills were announced in August by interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve

My children refuse to play outside because they think that they’re about to be attacked by a wolf Teacher

She added: “My children refuse to play outside because they think that they’re about to be attacked by a wolf. I now spend my time telling them that there are no wolves in northern France.” Another parent said that, during the mock attack, her son told his teacher that there were no terrorists in town and that the drill was useless, to which he replied: “You’ll thank me for this if terrorists do come and if, thanks to me, you know exactly what to do and where to hide.” The boy now fears terrorists are about to take over the town, she said.

The fight against ISIS Fri, November 18, 2016 The battle against ISIS militants (also abbreviated as Daesh, ISIL, IS and Islamic State) continues in the Middle East. Play slideshow Getty 1 of 183 Forces battle against ISIS

Another mother told Le Figaro that her son had had trouble falling asleep after the anti-terror exercise because he was convinced a terrorist was trying to break into the house. She said: “The school asked a local official to dress up as a gun-wielding ISIS soldier and the children had to hide under their desks for more than 20 minutes.

GETTY Fake assailants have stormed schools pretending to be ISIS at the schools in France