A court in Croatia has handed down a 50-year prison sentence to a young man for a knife attack at his former primary school that resulted in the death of a seven-year-old pupil and left several others wounded.
The Attack That Shocked a Nation
The violent incident unfolded on 20 December 2024 at the Precko Elementary School in the capital city, Zagreb. The assailant, who was 19 years old at the time of the attack and is now 20, entered the school armed with a knife. In a horrifying sequence of events, he stabbed multiple children and a teacher before attempting to take his own life.
The attack claimed the life of a young student and caused injuries to three other pupils and a teacher. The tragedy sent shockwaves through Croatia, a European Union member state where such extreme violence in educational settings is exceptionally rare.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
On Tuesday, 23 December 2025, the County Court in Zagreb delivered its verdict, sentencing the perpetrator to five decades behind bars. The lengthy sentence reflects the gravity of the crime, which targeted a place of learning attended by children aged between 7 and 15.
Authorities noted last year that the attacker had previously lived near the school. The court's decision is not final and can be appealed by the defence.
Following the verdict, Kresimir Skarica, the lawyer representing the family of the deceased child, commented on the outcome. As reported by the Index news portal, Skarica stated the ruling was anticipated, adding sombrely, “There are no winners or losers in this case.”
A Broader Context of Regional School Violence
This devastating event in Croatia follows another horrific school attack in the region. In May 2023, a teenager in neighbouring Serbia opened fire at a school in Belgrade, killing nine students and a school guard.
These consecutive tragedies have sparked profound discussions about youth mental health, security at educational institutions, and the prevention of violence across the Balkans and wider Europe.
