Teacher stabbed to death by an 8th-grade student at a school in Slovakia

A student at a primary school in the village of Staškov (Čadca district, northern Slovakia) attacked teachers and fellow pupils with a sharp object during morning lessons on Tuesday, 29 September 2026. One teacher was killed and two other people were seriously injured.

According to police and emergency services, the incident occurred after the first lesson. The attacker, reported to be an eighth-grade boy raised by his grandmother, used a sharp object to injure two female teachers and at least one pupil.

Emergency responders confirmed three people were wounded. A 61-year-old woman (one of the teachers) suffered injuries incompatible with life and died despite resuscitation efforts. A child was airlifted in critical condition to hospital in Martin. A 44-year-old woman with a stab wound to the chest was transferred by helicopter to hospital in Žilina after initial treatment; she is no longer in life-threatening condition.

The school principal’s actions are credited with preventing a larger tragedy. Police took control of the situation, confirmed no further immediate danger, and the case has been taken over by a specialised unit (ÚBOK). Ministers of the interior, education and health travelled to the scene.

Slovak officials, including President Peter Pellegrini, Prime Minister Robert Fico and several ministers, expressed condolences to the victims’ families and called for restraint in speculation about motives. Opposition politicians demanded stronger systemic measures to improve school safety following previous incidents.

Psychological support is being provided to the school community. Police continue to investigate the attack as a violent crime.