A knife-wielding teenager walked into a college in Croatia’s capital on Friday, stabbed a 7-year-old lady to loss of life and wounded three extra kids and their instructor, authorities mentioned.
The assault occurred round 9:50 a.m. on the final day of faculty earlier than Christmas on the Precko Elementary College within the Zagreb neighborhood of the identical title. It caters for youngsters between the ages of seven and 15.
“The attacker is a 19-year-old who’s a former pupil of that college and nonetheless lives close by,” mentioned Inside Minister Davor Bozinovic. “Finally he began injuring himself. Police prevented him from committing suicide.”
Bozinovic mentioned the attacker had psychological well being issues and had made a earlier try and kill himself. “It’s arduous to say this particular person was mentally balanced.”
College assaults are uncommon in Croatia and within the Balkans as a complete, though in Could 2023, a young person in neighboring Serbia opened hearth at a college within the capital, Belgrade, killing 9 fellow college students and a college guard.
Video footage broadcast by Croatian media on Friday confirmed kids operating away from the varsity constructing and a medical helicopter touchdown within the schoolyard.
Authorities in Croatia declared Saturday a day or mourning and canceled a number of the Christmas festivities. Candidates for the upcoming presidential election mentioned they had been quickly suspending their campaigns due to the tragedy.
President Zoran Milanovic mentioned “there aren’t any phrases to explain the grief over the horrible and unthinkable tragedy that shocked us all at present.” Milanovic referred to as for unity and an effort to make sure that faculties are a secure and carefree place for youngsters.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic mentioned at a authorities session that he was “appalled” by the assault and that authorities are nonetheless working to find out precisely what occurred..
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