Croatian school knife attack leaves 7-year-old dead, 6 people wounded, police say
A tragic knife attack at a school in Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, has left a 7-year-old girl dead and several others wounded. The incident occurred at Precko Elementary School, where a 19-year-old male, described as a former student of the school, entered the premises and carried out the attack.
According to authorities, the attacker injured three children, a teacher, and himself before being detained by the police. Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic confirmed the death of the young girl and expressed shock over the incident. He mentioned that the attacker had a history of mental health issues and had previously attempted suicide, indicating that he was not mentally stable.
Video footage from the scene showed chaos as children fled the school building, and emergency services responded to the situation. A medical helicopter was seen landing in the schoolyard to transport the injured to hospitals in Zagreb. The President of Croatia, Zoran Milanovic, declared a day of mourning in honor of the victims and called for unity in ensuring the safety of schools for children.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic condemned the attack, labeling it as appalling, and stated that authorities are investigating the details of the incident. He reassured the public that measures are being taken to support the affected children and their families. School attacks are uncommon in Croatia, with the last major incident occurring in neighboring Serbia, where a teenager killed several students and a school guard in Belgrade.
The tragic event has shaken the community, prompting calls for increased security measures in schools to prevent such incidents from happening again. The authorities are working diligently to provide support to the victims and their families while seeking justice for the senseless act of violence.
