Slovak pupil kills teacher in Staškov school knife attack as prior warnings face scrutiny

Stabbing at Staškov primary school

A fatal knife attack took place on Tuesday, 29 September, at a primary school in Staškov, a municipality in the Čadca district of north-western Slovakia. Shortly after the first morning period concluded, a 13-year-old eighth-grade pupil identified as Daniel attacked two teachers and a classmate with a knife. A 61-year-old teacher, Božena M., who previously led the school as its principal and had returned to teaching second-grade pupils after undergoing treatment for a serious illness, suffered fatal injuries. Emergency responders attempted to save her, but she succumbed to her wounds at the scene.

Critical injuries and emergency transport

Two other victims sustained severe wounds during the assault and required immediate air evacuation. A 44-year-old female teacher suffered a stab wound to the chest and was transported by rescue helicopter to the University Hospital in Žilina, where physicians stabilized her condition and confirmed her life was not in danger. A 13-year-old classmate, Nelka, sustained three stab wounds, leading to massive blood loss and hemorrhagic shock. Medical helicopters airlifted the girl to a specialised medical facility in Martin for emergency surgery. Health Minister Kamil Šaško confirmed on Wednesday that the student remained in critical condition under intensive care.

Principal intervenes to halt the assault

Following the initial violence, the school principal confronted the attacker and guided him into her administrative office, locking the door to prevent further harm. Despite personal risk, the principal engaged the boy in dialogue and calmed him down before law enforcement arrived. Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok praised her conduct, stating that she followed established security manuals and prevented additional casualties. Police officers detained the 13-year-old suspect in the office without meeting active resistance. Slovak authorities confirmed that the attacker is exempt from criminal liability under national law due to his age.

Police inquiry and prior warnings

Investigators from the Bureau for Combating Organized Crime opened an investigation into premeditated murder and executed a search warrant at the pupil's home. Concurrently, the Inspection Service Bureau launched an inquiry into police actions preceding the attack. The school administration had filed a criminal notification on Thursday, 24 September, following an unspecified on-campus incident. Education Minister Tomáš Drucker noted that school staff addressed behavioral concerns on Friday, 25 September, which prompted specialists from the Center for Counseling and Prevention to conduct a two-hour session with the class on Monday, 28 September. Classmates reported that the suspect had shared a social media image portraying teachers in a concentration camp and faced a lowered conduct grade alongside domestic restrictions.

Verdict in separate 2025 school attack

On Wednesday, 30 September, Slovakia's Specialised Criminal Court sentenced an 18-year-old former pupil to 25 years in prison for a January 2025 knife attack at a grammar school in Spišská Stará Ves. That earlier assault resulted in the deaths of a deputy headmistress and a female student, as well as injuries to another classmate. Senate president Milan Cisarik explained that the perpetrator had plotted to murder four individuals after the school placed him on an individual study program following behavioral complaints. While prosecutors demanded a life sentence, the court rejected defence claims that the perpetrator carried the knife exclusively to commit suicide before fleeing into nearby woods.