Seven injured in knife attack by 19-year-old student at Ostrołęka school

Attack at Vocational School Complex No. 4

On Wednesday morning, a 19-year-old male student carried out a knife attack inside Zespół Szkół Zawodowych nr 4 im. Adama Chętnika on Parkowa Street in Ostrołęka. Police received the first emergency notification regarding the incident at approximately 11:00 on 7 October 2026. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the student brandishing a knife and moving through the corridors while striking other young people. Witnesses recounted hearing screams throughout the school, with people shouting for help and calling for police intervention as students and staff attempted to seek safety.

Casualty figures and emergency response

The stabbing resulted in injuries to at least seven people inside the facility. Sub-inspector Katarzyna Kucharska from the Voivodeship Police Headquarters in Radom stated that two of the victims sustained severe injuries requiring intensive medical care. The majority of the wounded were students attending the vocational school, while school staff confirmed that a female teacher was also among those injured during the assault.

Multiple emergency services deployed to the Parkowa Street campus immediately after the alert. Police patrols, fire service brigades, and medical rescue teams secured the premises and administered emergency triage. The Polish Medical Air Rescue sent an air ambulance helicopter directly to the school grounds to facilitate rapid hospital transport. In addition, municipal crisis management officers and state prosecutors arrived on site to coordinate medical responses and initiate procedural inquiries into the circumstances of the assault.

Suspect arrest and citywide school lockdown

Following the stabbing inside the building, the 19-year-old student fled the school premises on foot. Police units initiated a pursuit across the area and located the suspect near the Ostrołęka municipal beach, where officers took him into custody. Authorities verified that the young man was a registered student at the vocational complex, but law enforcement has withheld his name and has not stated an official motive for the attack.

While police secured the scene and searched the perimeter, municipal authorities in Ostrołęka implemented emergency security protocols. City leadership ordered the immediate internal lockdown of all municipal schools, requiring staff to lock exterior access doors from the inside to safeguard students and educational staff across the city.

Municipal response and support services

Ostrołęka Mayor Paweł Niewiadomski confirmed that emergency services had neutralized the threat and established security at the facility.

The situation has been contained. The appropriate services are operating on site, taking steps to ensure safety and thoroughly clarify all the circumstances of the incident.

Niewiadomski addressed residents across Ostrołęka, appealing for public calm and asking citizens to refrain from circulating unverified claims. The city administration established targeted psychological counseling programs for affected individuals, with municipal officials prioritizing psychological care for students who faced acute trauma.

I want to also assure that every person who needs psychological support in connection with this incident will receive such help. We will surround students who may have experienced severe stress or a sense of danger with special care.

Local government authorities stated that safety monitoring remains in place across Ostrołęka as police and prosecutors continue their investigative proceedings on site.