ALBI, France, July 4 (UPI) -- A kindergarten teacher at Edouard Herriot, a preschool in the town Albi in southwestern France, was stabbed to death in front of her class early on Friday morning. The attacker was apparently the mother of one her students.

French Education Minister Benoit Hamon confirmed the horrifying incident earlier today at a news conference. The teacher has been identified as Fabienne Terral-Calmes, a 34-year-old whom Hamon described as a "fantastic teacher." She leaves behind a husband and two young children.


"It is my role, and it is the role of the government, to ensure that in the future we better protect our schools and shield (them) from violence," Hamon said.

The perpetrator, a 47-year-old and the mother of one of the children attending Edouard Herriot, has not yet been identified by name, but she was arrested at her home shortly after the incident. Officials confirmed that she had a history of psychological issues, but police have not offered any possible motives for the stabbing.

It's not clear whether the child of the attacker was in the classroom when the violence occurred.

A psychiatric unit was quickly assembled to aid the children and the community in dealing with aftermath of the seemingly random act of violence.