This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (December 2024) |
On the morning of December 20, 2024, a 19-year-old man stabbed seven people inside a school in Zagreb, Croatia, killing one child and wounding six others. This was the first school massacre in Croatia since the 1972 Zadar school shooting in which two teachers were shot and killed by a 19-year old pupil.[1]
| 2024 Zagreb school stabbing | |
|---|---|
| Location | Prečko Elementary School, Zagreb, Croatia |
| Date | 20 December 2024 c. 9:50 a.m. |
| Target | Pupils and staff |
Attack type | Mass stabbing |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Injured | 7 (including the perpetrator) |
| Perpetrator | Unnamed 19-year-old |
Attack
The attacker, dressed in black and with balaclava on his head,[2] entered the Prečko Elementary School at about 09:50 a.m., physically assaulting a student in the corridor before storming a random class with a knife, killing a seven-year-old student and wounding five more students and a teacher in the process.[3] The 62-year-old teacher allegedly attempted to protect the kids from the knifeman, before she too was injured.[4] According to the mom of one of the pupils present in the classroom during the attack, the kids reacted by hiding under the tables, before eventually getting up and running away in different directions. Some of the kids were found in the school kitchen, some on the school exit, while she found her daughter in a restaurant across the street.[5] The perpetrator escaped from the scene to a nearby health centre.[6]
While hiding in a toilet room of the health centre, the attacker attempted to commit suicide using the knife. The police managed to locate and detain him about ten minutes after receiving a distress signal, preventing his suicide.[7][6] He was subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment of his self-inflicted wounds.[8] Meanwhile, a helicopter ambulance landed in the schoolyard and six ambulances rushed to the scene, transporting the wounded to various hospitals around Zagreb.[9]
Investigation
Several hours after the attack, Croatian Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović held a press conference. Božinović stated that the motive of the attack remains unknown, but that the perpetrator had had a history of mental health issues.[10] The police later stated that the attacker would be charged with one count of aggravated murder and four counts of attempted aggravated murder.[11]
The attacker
The attacker was a former pupil at the school who had suffered from mental health issues and had attempted suicide in 2023.[12][13] His mother told the news agency 24sata that he was taken to a psychiatric institution for a treatment on the day of the attack, and that she doesn't know when or how he ended up going to Prečko Elementary School. She also said that she was afraid of her son due to his behaviour and that one month prior to the attack he held her and his grandmother hostage in their own appartment.[14]
Croatian media site RTL reported that the attacker was obsessed with knives and sabres, which he purchased on the internet. He allegedly posted comments on social networks complaining that the knives he bought were "not sharp enough".[15]
Reactions
Croatia
On the day of the attack, Croatian Ministry of Health announced that they dispatched the inspection to the institution where the attacker was treated.[16] The government proclaimed the following day, 21 December 2024, a day of mourning.[17][18] Later on the day of the attack, Mayor of Zagreb Tomislav Tomašević and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković came out with a list of precautions that will be taken in all Croatian schools moving forward in order to prevent another attack from occurring. The measures are to take effect as soon as the schools reopen following the winter break.[19] The City of Zagreb also provided contact information for psychological assistance, support, and counseling services available to all citizens without the need for a referral.[20]
Citizens of Zagreb assembled in front of the school throughout the day to light candles and lay down toys and messages in honor of the victim.[17]
The president of the Croatian teachers' union called for the bringing of a National plan for protection and prevention against violence in schools, which was reportedly in the works at one point, but was never finalized. The Croatian Teachers' Union, the "Preporod" Union and the Independent Union of Croatian Highschool Employees announced a procession for December 23 under the name "Za sigurnu školu" (For a safe school).[8]
Abroad
President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić expressed his condolences to the families of those injured in the attack on behalf of himself and all of Serbia.[21] US ambassador to Croatia Nathalie Rayes also expressed her condolences.[22]
References
- ^ "Zadarski - S 19 godina upucao je dvojicu zadarskih profesora: 'Više sam uzbuđenja osjetio kad sam ubio dvije grlice!' Što kažu svjedoci, kazna na Golom otoku". slobodnadalmacija.hr (in Croatian). 2023-05-04. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "Jutarnji list - Rekonstrukcija tragedije u Zagrebu: Ubio je prvašića, izbo još troje i ranio učiteljicu. Trebao je biti na liječenju". www.jutarnji.hr (in Croatian). 2024-12-20. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "Knife attack at Zagreb school leaves 7-year-old dead, several injured". Euronews. 20 December 2024.
- ^ Guša, Andrea (2024-12-20). "Učiteljica (62) pokušala zaštititi učenike od napadača s nožem: 18 godina je radila u školi". Zagreb.info (in Croatian). Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "Majka učenice koja je bila u razredu za vrijeme napada ispričala detalje: Uletio u razred, djeca su se sakrila ispod klupa". www.vecernji.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ a b "Ravnatelj policije otkrio najnovije informacije: "O njemu postoje dva sigurnosna događaja"". Dnevnik.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ Info, N1 (2024-12-20). "Božinović: "Počinitelj je bio učenik te škole, živi u blizini škole..."". N1 (in Croatian). Retrieved 2024-12-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "Tragedija u OŠ Prečko: Mladić napao djecu i učiteljicu, jedno dijete umrlo". Hrvatska radiotelevizija (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 20 December 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "Croatian Seven-Year-Old Killed, Several Injured in School Knife Attack". Balkan Insight. 20 December 2024.
- ^ Info, N1 (2024-12-20). "Božinović: "Počinitelj je bio učenik te škole, živi u blizini škole..."". N1 (in Croatian). Retrieved 2024-12-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "FOTO Gotov očevid u Prečkom: Napadač će biti prijavljen za teško ubojstvo i četiri pokušaja teškog ubojstva". www.vecernji.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "Croatian Seven-Year-Old Killed, Several Injured in School Knife Attack". Balkan Insight. 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Pupil killed in knife attack at Croatia school". Reuters. 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Jutarnji list - Progovorila majka napadača: 'Noćima nismo spavali u strahu zbog njega. On se liječio, a doktor ga je hladnokrvno pustio van'". www.jutarnji.hr (in Croatian). 2024-12-20. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "Ubojica iz škole kupovao je oružje preko interneta. "Ovaj nož nije dovoljno oštar"". www.index.hr (in Croatian). 2024-12-20. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "Inspekcija poslana u psihijatrijsku ustanovu gdje se liječio ubojica iz škole". www.index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ a b "Građani pale svijeće na školskom igralištu OŠ Prečko". tportal.hr. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "Sutra u Hrvatskoj Dan žalosti povodom tragičnog napada u Osnovnoj školi Prečko". vlada.gov.hr. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "Od prvog dana drugog polugodišta sve će se škole zaključavati". Hrvatska radiotelevizija (in Croatian). Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ Vujčić, Marijana (2024-12-20). "Nakon tragičnog napada, iz Grada objavili kontakte za pomoć: Može se doći bez uputnice". Zagreb.info (in Croatian). Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "Vučić: Naše misli su uz porodice stradalih u napadu u školi u Zagrebu i građane Hrvatske". www.blic.rs (in Serbian).
- ^ "Američka veleposlanica Rayes: Duboko smo ožalošćeni današnjim tragičnim događajima". tportal.hr. Retrieved 2024-12-20.