The tragic attack on an elementary school in the village of Staškov, located in the Čadca district, where a thirteen-year-old eighth-grade student attacked his classmates and teachers with a knife, had warning signs several days before the incident. During the attack, a 61-year-old teacher died, and an injured student remains in critical condition in the hospital.
According to the Novinky.cz portal, the boy previously had no serious behavioral problems and was considered an ordinary student. However, the situation escalated after he created a controversial drawing. In it, he depicted the school’s teachers surrounded by a concentration camp.
The school management reacted immediately to this incident. For improper behavior, the boy was threatened with a reduction in his behavior grade, which was a standard disciplinary measure. The school did not take more decisive steps, such as expulsion.
Specialists arrived before the attack
Problems in the educational process appeared already on Friday, September 25, four days before the tragedy. Although the situation was not assessed as extremely dangerous then, the school did not underestimate it.
On Monday, September 28, the day before the attack, specialists came directly to the classroom. Minister of Education Tomáš Drucker confirmed that the counseling and prevention center worked with the entire staff.
- Two-hour session: Psychologists worked with the whole class to relieve tension and address previous incidents.
- Quick response: The minister called the school’s actions operational, as it responded to the reported problems the next working day.
Police investigation and response of responsible authorities
The timeline of events raises serious questions about the police’s actions. The local police officer had information about the teenager’s problematic behavior before the attack but did not assess the situation as serious enough for immediate intervention. He now faces criminal prosecution on suspicion of obstructing the performance of a public official’s duties.
The case is handled by an elite police unit. Since the attacker, given his age of 13, is not criminally responsible, the tragedy has again sparked intense public discussion about safety in Slovak schools, preventing youth radicalization, and timely help for children with psychological problems.
