A 7-year-old child is dead and several others are injured after a horrifying knife attack at an elementary school in Zagreb on Friday morning.
A 19-year-old man armed with a knife entered the Prečko Elementary School in the Croatian capital and embarked on a stabbing spree before being apprehended by police.
The attack took place around 9:50 a.m. Witnesses reported scenes of chaos as the attacker entered the school, stabbing children and a teacher before fleeing to a nearby healthcare center, where he attempted to take his own life. Police intervened and arrested him within minutes.
“Five were injured and taken to the hospital. At this moment, all five are out of danger. Unfortunately, one child, a seven-year-old, succumbed to their injuries at the scene despite resuscitation efforts,” said Health Minister Irena Hrstić.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković addressed the incident during a government session, stating, “We are appalled, as is the entire Croatian public, by this great tragedy that happened this morning at Prečko Elementary School in Zagreb. We express our regret and sympathy to the families of the injured children. As soon as we have more information, we will inform the public.”
Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomašević declared a day of mourning across the city. “This is a terrible tragedy that has shaken us all. The city will provide psychological assistance to students, parents, and school employees. All city services are at the disposal of the competent state authorities,” he said.
President Zoran Milanović shared his condolences on social media, writing, “There are no words to describe the sadness due to this terrible and unprecedented tragedy that shocked everyone today. Let’s do everything to make our schools and educational institutions once again a carefree and safe place for all children and all school employees, as they have been for decades.”
Interior Minister Davor Božinović confirmed the attacker’s arrest and provided insight into his history. “I can say at this moment that the person was known in the system due to mental disorders, including a suicide attempt about a year ago. The fact that he tried to take his own life today shows that he was not mentally balanced,” Božinović said.
The attacker is understood to be a 19-year-old male Croatian national. No other details have been disclosed.
HRT journalist Vlatka Kalinić recounted harrowing scenes from eyewitnesses. “Unofficially, we learned from parents that the children, who were walking peacefully from breakfast, saw blood in the corridor and a young man attacking a boy. They started running away, and there was panic.”
🇭🇷 7-year-old girl KILLED and several others injured in school stabbing spree in Zagreb.
19-year-old male, former student of Precko Elementary School detained. pic.twitter.com/mvP9hKMvoG
— VoxPopuli (@vpopulimedia) December 20, 2024Parents outside the school described hours of uncertainty and fear. Kalinić added, “Many parents didn’t know where their children were. Some had run away, others were taken out by emergency responders, and some were picked up by their parents. For two hours, there were parents who couldn’t get answers about their children’s whereabouts.”
Health Minister Hrstić assured the public of ongoing support, saying, “Our emergency services and crisis teams are still on the ground. We are doing everything we can to support the victims, their families, and the community.”
The Croatian Police Union emphasized the broader implications of the attack. “This is a terrible tragedy that shook us all,” it said in a statement. “Croatia is not an isolated island, but part of a global system in which security challenges are becoming more complex. Unfortunately, such a crime occurring was simply a matter of time.”
Education Minister Radovan Fuchs pledged comprehensive support for the affected school community, saying, “Our crisis team went to the school immediately upon notification. They are in direct communication with parents, students, and school staff. If necessary, additional experts will be brought in to ensure the well-being of everyone involved.”
Leaders and citizens alike are calling for renewed efforts to ensure schools remain safe havens for children after details emerged that the school had been unlocked and metal detectors in place were not in use.
