SPIŠSKÁ STARÁ VES, Slovakia – A knife attack at a grammar school in the small northern Slovak town of Spišská Stará Ves has left two people dead and another critically injured, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
The incident unfolded on January 16, prompted an immediate emergency response and a manhunt for the suspect, who was later apprehended.
According to police reports, the attacker, identified as an 18-year-old student of the school, entered the premises armed with a knife. In a brutal assault, the assailant fatally stabbed the school’s deputy head and one student before fleeing the scene.
Another student was left in critical condition and was rushed to the hospital for urgent medical care. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, local authorities used the town’s public address system to warn residents about an armed individual at large.
The announcement triggered panic in the town of just over 2,000 residents, situated near Slovakia’s border with Poland. Anna Horníková, head of the local town hall, confirmed the security alert, while Mayor Ján Kurňava, who arrived at the school shortly after the attack, expressed his shock and grief.
“This is something terrible, something unimaginable for our small town,” Kurňava said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.”
Police launched a swift manhunt and later confirmed that the suspect, identified only as S.S., had been taken into custody. Reports indicate that the attacker stabbed a teacher and two classmates before escaping. Authorities have not yet disclosed a possible motive for the attack, and investigations remain ongoing.
A Disturbing Pattern of Knife Violence in Slovakia
The tragedy has reignited concerns over knife-related violence in Slovakia, which has witnessed several high-profile attacks in recent years.
The incident in Spišská Stará Ves draws parallels to a similar school attack in June 2020, when a former student fatally stabbed the deputy headmaster of a primary school in Vrútky, central Slovakia.
Several others were injured in that attack before police shot the assailant. Reports at the time suggested the attack was linked to the perpetrator’s past experiences with bullying at the school.
Other knife-related crimes in Slovakia include a 2016 attack in Lisková, Ružomberok, where a man was killed after charging at police officers with a military knife, and a 2017 incident in Nová Baňa, where a man fatally stabbed his wife. Violent stabbings have also occurred in cities such as Banská Bystrica, Košice, and Humenné.
Community in Mourning
The residents of Spišská Stará Ves are in shock as they mourn the loss of the victims. Grief counseling is being made available to students, teachers, and families affected by the tragedy.
Meanwhile, law enforcement officials have vowed a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the attack. Additional security measures are being considered for schools across the country to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Authorities are expected to release further details in the coming days as the case develops.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members