Teacher and pupil hurt in knife attack by 13-year-old in Bistrita
Police say the boy, a year 7 pupil, attacked a teacher and a classmate at a Bistrita school on Monday after announcing a plan on social media.
A 13-year-old pupil attacked a teacher and a 12-year-old classmate with a knife at the "Stefan cel Mare" school in Bistrita on Monday morning, at around 8.40am, local police said. The attacker had sought out the younger pupil, who is in year 6, Bistrita-Nasaud county school inspector Vasile Steopoaie said, according to news agency Agerpres.
The teacher tried to stop the boy from entering her classroom and was stabbed in the forehead and side of the abdomen, Steopoaie said. The attacker then went into the classroom looking for the pupil he had sought; other children intervened, and one of them was also hurt, Steopoaie said. Police said officers restrained and detained the attacker at the scene.
Both victims, a 28-year-old woman and the 12-year-old boy, were taken to Bistrita County Emergency Hospital, where staff said they were conscious, stable and frightened while undergoing treatment, hospital spokeswoman Camelia Strungari said. Romania's organised crime and terrorism prosecution unit, DIICOT, has taken over the investigation; police said the attacker shows signs of radicalisation.
Broadcaster Digi24 reported that the attacker had announced his intentions on social media over several months before the attack, including posts shortly beforehand. Romania's education ministry called the attack "shocking and inexplicable" and the education minister asked for special criminal-law protection for teachers, Libertatea reported. Classes at the school were suspended and pupils were told to attend lessons online.
Two lawmakers from the opposition Social Democratic Party, Daniel Suciu and Bogdan Ivan, said they would propose legislation banning social media access for children under 14 and requiring parental consent and controls for those aged 14 to 18, citing the Bistrita attack.
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What we know
- Official · police A 13-year-old pupil stabbed a teacher and a 12-year-old classmate at a school in Bistrita on Monday at about 8.40am, police said.
- Official · hospital spokeswoman The teacher, 28, and the pupil, 12, were taken to hospital and are conscious and stable, a hospital spokeswoman said.
- Official · DIICOT, police DIICOT, Romania's organised crime and terrorism prosecution unit, has taken over the investigation; police said the attacker shows signs of radicalisation.
- 2+ outlets · Digi24, Știrile ProTV The attacker had announced his intentions on social media over several months, including shortly before the attack, Digi24 reported.
- 2+ outlets · Antena 3 CNN, Observator News Classes at the school were suspended and moved online.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
The attack has prompted Romanian officials to call for new legal protections for teachers and restrictions on children's access to social media, after lawmakers said the attacker had signalled his intentions online for months beforehand. It adds to concern among European policymakers, including under the EU's child-protection proposals, about how platforms expose children to violent content and radicalisation.
Sources
Reported by 5 reports from 5 independent outlets in 1 countries.
- Antena 3 CNN: Atac cu cuțitul la o școală din Bistrița. Un elev și-a înjunghiat profesoara și un coleg care a vrut să o apere
- Observator News: Ce a stat în spatele atacului asupra profesoarei de la şcoala din Bistriţa. Vizat a fost de fapt un elev
- Observator News: "E şocant şi inexplicabil". Prima reacţie din Ministerul Educației după atacul cu cuţit la şcoala din Bistriţa
- Observator News: Momentul atacului de la şcoala din Bistriţa. Copilul de 13 ani, dosar penal pentru tentativă de omor
- Libertatea: Atacul de la școala din Bistrița, analizat de psihologul Radu Leca: „Spațiul virtual a fuzionat cu realitatea. A fost calculat și cu sânge rece”
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- What happened at the school in Bistrita?
- A 13-year-old pupil attacked a teacher and a 12-year-old classmate with a knife on Monday morning; both were hospitalised and are stable.
- Had there been any warning?
- Broadcaster Digi24 reported the attacker had posted about his plan on social media over several months, including shortly before the attack.
- What is the official response?
- DIICOT took over the investigation, the education minister called for special legal protection for teachers, and two lawmakers proposed banning social media for under-14s.
This article was written with AI assistance from 13 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.