True Crime Community influence linked to school shooting in Aubagne

A 14-year-old student has been detained following a shooting targeting a teacher and a principal at a school in Aubagne, near Marseille. The teenager admitted to being influenced by the ‘True Crime Community’ (TCC), a virtual network of subcultures that glorifies mass shooters and serial killers.

Terrorism expert Alexandre Rodde noted that the TCC specifically targets adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18. This incident marks the second attack in France this year linked to the community, following a similar event in La Rochelle in March.

The TCC subculture gained prominence following the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in the United States and expanded across Europe through online platforms. Experts suggest the phenomenon grew significantly during the pandemic due to social isolation and the increased vulnerability of young people.