A tragic incident unfolded at an elementary school in the Croatian capital Zagreb, resulting in the death of a 7-year-old girl and the injury of eight others. The perpetrator, a 19-year-old believed to be a former student, carried out a knife attack in a first-grade classroom at Precko Elementary School early Friday morning.
The assailant targeted both the teacher and several children, causing severe harm. The teacher sustained life-threatening injuries and is currently in critical condition at Sveti Duh Hospital. Helicopters have been deployed to transport the wounded to various hospitals across the city for urgent medical care.
Zagreb police have confirmed that the attacker is in custody, and the injured individuals are receiving necessary medical attention. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as ambulances arrived at the school, with people fleeing the premises in panic. Social media videos captured the frantic moments as numerous individuals evacuated the area.
City officials, including Mayor Tomislav Tomasevic and Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic, have arrived at the scene to assess the situation. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic expressed the nation's shock and sorrow over the tragedy, emphasizing that Health Minister Irena Hristic will personally visit the hospitals treating the wounded.
Incidents of this nature are uncommon in Croatia and the broader Balkan region. The country was previously shaken by two mass shootings in Serbia last year, with one of the attacks specifically targeting a school in the capital city of Belgrade.
