ZAGREB, Croatia — A tragic incident occurred on Friday when a 19-year-old former student wielding a knife entered Precko Elementary School in Zagreb and fatally stabbed a 7-year-old girl, injuring three other children and a teacher. The attack happened around 9:50 a.m., coinciding with the last school day before the Christmas break at the institution that serves students aged 7 to 15.
According to Croatian Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic, the assailant, who still resides nearby, began to inflict injuries upon himself after the attack. Police intervened to prevent him from taking his own life. Bozinovic noted that the attacker had a history of mental health issues and had previously attempted suicide, stating that it was difficult to characterize him as mentally stable.
School attacks are quite uncommon in Croatia and the broader Balkan region, although a notable event occurred in May 2023 in Belgrade, Serbia, where a teenager opened fire in a school, tragically killing nine students and a security guard.
Media outlets in Croatia broadcast dramatic footage of children fleeing the school while a medical helicopter landed in the yard to assist those injured. In response to this horrific event, Croatian authorities have declared Saturday as a day of mourning and decided to cancel various Christmas-related celebrations. Candidates campaigning for the upcoming presidential election have also suspended their activities temporarily in light of this tragedy.
President Zoran Milanovic expressed his sorrow, stating, “There are no words to describe the grief over the horrible and unthinkable tragedy that shocked us all today.” He called for national unity and stressed the need for schools to be safe havens for children. Similarly, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic expressed his dismay during a government meeting, mentioning that authorities continue to investigate the full details surrounding the incident.
