Slovakian authorities shot to death a 22-year-old man who attacked staff at a school in Vrutky town.
The incident which occurred on Thursday claimed a United School deputy director’s life and left five others—including two children— injured.
Slovak media reported that the attacker stabbed victims and was then shot by police as he ran away from the school.
The Associated Press reported that the attacker came from the nearby town of Martin.
In his official Facebook page, Slovak police chief Milan Lucansky said the attacker broke the glass door to get in when he used a knife to stab the victims when school staff tried to stop him.
“He dealt a lethal injury to a deputy principal and injured the caretaker, then he got inside the building where he caused a serious injury to a female teacher and then injured two kids with multiple stab wounds,” Lucansky said.
“He then tried to escape with the caretaker running after him. A policeman chased him, but he tried to defend himself with the knife so they used their guns and killed him.”
Lucansky said the man appeared to be mentally ill.
Slovakia Prime Minister Igor Matovic offered his condolences to the victims’ family while President Zuzana Caputova said she will offer support to “all the teachers, police officers, children and their parents affected by this difficult and fearful time.”
Primary schools in Slovakia began reopening on June 1 after the government ordered the easing of coronavirus lockdown measures.
The school, the United School, serves children from primary age up to high school.
