Girl, 7, Killed in Knife Attack at School: Several Others Left Injured

A devastating knife attack at a school in Zagreb, Croatia, has left a 7-year-old girl dead and several others injured, including a teacher and students. The attack occurred on Friday, Dec. 20, at Prečko Elementary School, prompting shock and horror across the country.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic expressed his grief over the tragedy, confirming the incident in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). “We are horrified, as is the entire Croatian public, by the great tragedy that happened this morning at Prečko Elementary School in Zagreb,” he wrote. “We express our regret and sympathy to the families of all the injured, students, and school staff.”

According to the Zagreb Police Department, a 19-year-old man entered the school around 9:50 a.m. and attacked several people inside a classroom with a sharp object. Authorities confirmed the death of a 7-year-old student and reported that those injured, including three children and two adults, were receiving medical treatment. The attacker was apprehended and placed under police surveillance.

Local news footage captured images of children running out of the school building and a medical helicopter landing on the campus. Croatia’s Health Minister, Irena Hrstić, described the situation as “appalling” and confirmed that five people were injured, including two boys, aged 7 and 11, who were hospitalized with multiple stab wounds. However, she reassured the public that both boys were in stable condition and out of danger.

In the aftermath, authorities have been working to piece together the details of the attack. Plenkovic added that several hospitals in Zagreb are treating the injured, including Zagreb Hospital, Sestre Milosrdnica Hospital, Sveti Duh Hospital, and Klaić Hospital. The public will be updated as more information becomes available.