Slovak police detain 13-year-old after school knife attack kills teacher

A 13-year-old schoolboy has been detained after a knife attack at a school in the Slovak village of Staskov killed a teacher and injured another teacher and a pupil, authorities said. The attack occurred at about 0700 GMT on Tuesday, shortly after the first class, near Slovakia’s border with the Czech Republic. Police said the suspect was being investigated for “premeditated murder”.

Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said a pupil had launched the attack with a knife. Emergency services said a 61-year-old woman died from her injuries, while a 44-year-old woman suffered a stab wound to the chest. The injured teacher’s life was later said by the interior minister not to be in danger.

Health Minister Kamil Sasko said the injured schoolgirl was in a serious, critical condition. Police said the situation in the village was under control. Education Minister Tomas Drucker declined to say whether bullying had played a role in the incident.

The authorities did not provide further details about a possible motive. Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed condolences and said he was following the incident with concern. President Peter Pellegrini said he was shocked that another student had attacked teachers and a classmate.

Pellegrini said aggression and intolerance in the public sphere could influence children’s behaviour, and urged citizens to avoid further radicalisation. The attack follows earlier violent incidents at Slovak schools, including a 2025 knife attack in which an 18-year-old killed a pupil and a teacher and injured another pupil.