On Monday morning, a 13-year-old seventh-grade pupil at Ștefan cel Mare Secondary School in Bistrița arrived with a knife, wearing a face covering and a helmet. He allegedly went looking for a sixth-grade pupil. A 28-year-old mathematics teacher tried to stop him and was stabbed; another pupil was also injured while intervening. Authorities say the suspect was detained by police.

(Staff: Romania / Justice & Education)

At around 8:40 a.m. on Monday, 19 October 2026, police received an emergency call about a knife attack at the school. The teacher and a 12-year-old pupil were taken to hospital. AGERPRES reported that prosecutors opened an investigation into suspected aggravated attempted murder.

The incident caused alarm in the school community and raised questions about school safety and the possible radicalisation of minors.

How the attack unfolded

According to accounts reported by Romanian media, the pupil arrived at school but did not immediately go to class. Reports say he later put on a face covering and helmet and posted messages on TikTok referring to an attack he had allegedly been preparing for eight months. These claims form part of the reporting about the ongoing investigation.

He then went to a classroom where a sixth-grade pupil was having a lesson. The teacher tried to prevent him from entering and was stabbed. The attacker entered the classroom looking for the pupil he allegedly intended to target. Another child who intervened was injured. Police detained the 13-year-old.

A witness told reporters that the teacher was taken away by emergency medical services and that the pupil who intervened was also hurt.

The victims and their condition

The 28-year-old teacher and the 12-year-old pupil were transported to the emergency department in Bistrița. Initial reports from the hospital said both were conscious and stable. Other pupils and an adult were also assessed after suffering panic symptoms.

Possible motive

Romanian media, citing the county school inspector general and judicial sources, reported that the intended target may have been perceived by the suspect as belonging to a different religion or ethnic group. The motive has not been established by a final judicial finding, and reports differ in how they describe the pupil’s background. These details should therefore be treated as allegations under investigation, not established facts.

What is known about the suspect

The suspect is 13 and attends seventh grade at the same school. School officials said he had returned from Spain several years earlier and was described by one official as withdrawn and not well integrated into the group. Media reports refer to social-media posts allegedly published before the incident. Such descriptions do not, by themselves, establish a motive or a diagnosis.

Official response and investigation

Police said the suspect was detained and the injured people were taken for medical care. AGERPRES reported that the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bistrița-Năsăud Tribunal opened a case concerning suspected aggravated attempted murder. The investigation is intended to establish the circumstances of the attack.

Classes at the school were suspended for the day, according to media reports, while pupils remained under adult supervision until their families collected them. Emergency services also assessed people who experienced panic symptoms.

Conclusion

The attack at the Ștefan cel Mare Secondary School left a teacher and a pupil injured and prompted a criminal investigation. Reports about the suspect’s alleged preparations and possible motive remain subject to verification by investigators. The case also raises urgent questions about student safety, early intervention and how schools respond to warning signs, without drawing conclusions before the facts are established.