On December 20, 2024, a tragic mass stabbing occurred at Prečko Elementary School in Zagreb, Croatia. A 19-year-old male former student of the school entered the school around 9:50 a.m. and launched a knife attack in a classroom. During the attack, he fatally stabbed a 7-year-old girl and wounded five other students as well as a 62-year-old teacher. The teacher was stabbed 31 times while attempting to protect the children and was critically injured. The attacker also physically assaulted a student in the corridor before entering the classroom. The children inside reacted by hiding under tables and then escaping in different directions, with some found in the school kitchen or outside the school.
The attacker fled the scene to a nearby health center, where he attempted to commit suicide with the knife but was apprehended by police within ten minutes of the attack. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of self-inflicted wounds and then detained for questioning. Croatian authorities charged him with one count of aggravated murder and multiple counts of attempted aggravated murder and violations of children's rights.
The attacker had a history of mental health problems and previous suicide attempts, including a psychiatric hospitalization earlier in 2024. His mother revealed he had an "emotionally unstable personality" and had held family members hostage a month before the attack. He was also reported to be obsessed with knives and had purchased blades and sabres online.
The attacker fled the scene to a nearby health center, where he attempted to commit suicide with the knife but was apprehended by police within ten minutes of the attack. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of self-inflicted wounds and then detained for questioning. Croatian authorities charged him with one count of aggravated murder and multiple counts of attempted aggravated murder and violations of children's rights.
The attacker had a history of mental health problems and previous suicide attempts, including a psychiatric hospitalization earlier in 2024. His mother revealed he had an "emotionally unstable personality" and had held family members hostage a month before the attack. He was also reported to be obsessed with knives and had purchased blades and sabres online.
