Knife attack at school in Bistrița: government prepares security plan
A 13-year-old pupil injured a teacher and a classmate at "Ștefan cel Mare" School in Bistrița. Prime Minister Niculescu announces an inter-institutional school safety plan.
School security plan following knife attack in Bistrița
According to Cotidianul.ro, a seventh-grade pupil aged 13 entered the premises of "Ștefan cel Mare" Secondary School in Bistrița on Monday morning armed with a knife, injuring a teacher and a classmate who intervened to protect her. Investigators established that the minor had allegedly premeditated the act for approximately eight months.
The pupil equipped himself in a school bathroom, wearing a military helmet, a balaclava and gloves. Messages in English and right-wing extremist symbols were discovered in that space. The attack had been announced in advance on TikTok, generating a wave of concern among the educational community and the public.
Prime Minister Niculescu's response
Security in educational institutions constituted the main subject of the first meeting of the new Executive. Prime Minister Luca Niculescu publicly expressed his compassion for the victims and wished them a speedy recovery, according to News.ro.
"I want to say very clearly that there are no excuses for violence," the head of government declared, emphasising that acts of aggression in the school environment are unacceptable and cannot be tolerated in any form. Niculescu announced the development, in collaboration with the ministers in his cabinet, of a concrete action plan in the shortest possible time.
Inter-institutional plan
The government initiative aims at strengthening a safety framework in all schools in the country, through the coordinated involvement of multiple institutions. The plan will bring together the competencies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, specialists in education and public safety, teaching staff, pupil associations and psychology experts.
The main objective is to identify and implement swift solutions for preventing similar events and for managing risks associated with juvenile violence in the school environment.
State of victims and criminal investigation
Officials at the medical facility where the injured teacher is hospitalised specified that her condition is stable, with a favourable development following surgical intervention.
The judicial authorities are continuing criminal investigations to establish all the circumstances in which the act occurred. The Chief Prosecutor of Bistrița-Năsăud Tribunal, Adrian Briciu, mentioned that the minor has not yet been questioned, and initial examinations of his behaviour indicate an absence of remorse.
The Police Inspectorate has also opened a criminal case to identify the person who distributed video footage from the scene of the incident online, and authorised institutions are closely monitoring the development of the case.
Source: Cotidianul.ro