Knife Attack in Zagreb School Claims Life of Young Girl
ZAGREB, Croatia — A tragic incident at Precko Elementary School in the Croatian capital has left a 7-year-old girl dead and several others wounded. Authorities reported that a knife-wielding 19-year-old male entered the school around 9:50 a.m. on Friday and launched an attack on students and a teacher.
Officials confirmed that three other children and a teacher suffered injuries during the attack. The suspect, who is believed to be a former student of the school, was taken into custody after also harming himself. Croatian Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic stated that the attacker had a history of mental health issues and had previously attempted suicide.
Video footage captured by local media showed students fleeing the school as a medical helicopter landed in the yard to assist with the emergency response.
In response to this unfathomable tragedy, authorities in Zagreb have declared Saturday a day of mourning. President Zoran Milanovic expressed profound sorrow, stating, "There are no words to describe the grief over the horrible and unthinkable tragedy that shocked us all today." He emphasized the need for unity to ensure schools remain safe places for children.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic reacted with shock and said that investigations are ongoing to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident. Reports indicated that several of the injured children were transported to local hospitals for treatment.
School attacks are rare in Croatia, highlighting the severity of this event. In neighboring Serbia, a disturbing school shooting occurred last May, resulting in the deaths of nine students and a school guard.
As the community grapples with this heart-wrenching event, there are calls for better mental health support and safety measures in schools to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.
