A seventh-grade student from “Ștefan cel Mare” Middle School in Bistrița, northern Romania, allegedly attacked a teacher and a sixth-grade classmate with a knife on Monday, October 19.
The sixth-grade student is in foster care and was targeted by the attacker because of his religion, according to Vasile Șteopoaie, head of the Bistrița-Năsăud County School Inspectorate (ISJ), cited by Euronews Romania.
According to Vasile Șteopoaie, the student allegedly came to school with a knife and looked for a sixth-grade classmate whom he intended to attack. The attacker had returned from Spain several years ago, according to the official.
The attacker, identified as A.O.T., arrived at school as usual, a few minutes before 8 AM. However, he did not go to class and instead stayed in the bathroom. After classes began, he put a balaclava over his head and a helmet on, took the knife, and posted a video on TikTok.
“I’ve been preparing this for eight months! See you in Valhalla! I’m doing it! They have no idea how dangerous I am!” he announced in the video and stories he posted, cited by Digi24.
The teacher allegedly blocked his access to the classroom, at which point the student allegedly struck her with the knife. He subsequently entered the classroom looking for the classmate he was targeting. Another student allegedly intervened to help his teacher and was injured, the head of the ISJ explained.
The student was eventually restrained and was in police custody. Bistrita-Nasaud ISJ head noted that the minor had radicalisation tendencies, targeting the other student because he belonged to a different religion.
The two victims, aged 28 and 12, were transported to the hospital in stable condition and conscious.
According to the official, the investigation has been taken over by DIICOT. The circumstances of the attack and its motive are to be established by the authorities.
“The Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bistrița-Năsăud Tribunal has been notified in this case regarding the commission of attempted aggravated murder,” the Bistrița-Năsăud County Police Inspectorate said.
To manage the situation, one SMURD first-aid crew, one SMURD mobile intensive care crew, one County Ambulance Service crew with a doctor, and one special vehicle for transporting personnel and multiple victims were mobilised. Classes were suspended, and the students remained under the supervision of teachers until their parents arrived to take them home.