A seven-year-old girl was killed, and eight others were injured in a knife attack at an elementary school in Zagreb, Croatia, on Friday morning.

The 19-year-old suspect, reportedly a former student of Prečko Elementary School, entered a first-grade classroom and launched the attack on the teacher and several children, according to CNN affiliate N1.

Victims and Medical Response

Emergency services responded swiftly, with helicopters transporting the injured to hospitals across the city. The teacher, who sustained life-threatening injuries, is in critical condition at Sveti Duh Hospital.

“The attacker is under police custody. The injured persons are receiving medical treatment,” Zagreb police confirmed in a statement.

Scenes of Chaos and Shock

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as ambulances arrived at the school and people fled the premises. Videos circulating on social media showed crowds running across the school’s sports fields as authorities worked to secure the area.

City officials, including Mayor Tomislav Tomašević and Interior Minister Davor Božinović, were present at the site, coordinating the emergency response.

National Mourning and Condemnation

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković expressed his shock and sorrow, calling the incident a “tragedy” that has appalled the nation. He also confirmed that Health Minister Irena Hristić would visit the hospitals treating the injured.

“This is a devastating and unprecedented event in our community,” Plenković said, emphasizing the need for support for the victims and their families.

Rare Incident in the Region

School attacks are uncommon in Croatia and the wider Balkan region. However, the tragedy has evoked memories of last year’s mass shootings in neighboring Serbia, one of which targeted a school in Belgrade.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the motive behind the attack, which has left the community in shock. Security measures at schools across the country are expected to be reviewed in the aftermath of the incident.

This attack has shaken the tight-knit Zagreb community, with residents expressing grief and disbelief. As the nation mourns, officials have pledged to do everything possible to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Hundreds of Syrian refugees gathered at Turkey’s southern border crossings on Monday, preparing to return home in the wake of Bashar al-Assad’s government collapse. The movement, which comes amid plans for increased border access, signals hope for stability in war-torn Syria.

At the Cilvegozu and Oncupinar crossings, corresponding to Bab al-Hawa and Bab al-Salameh gates on the Syrian side, refugees arrived with belongings packed into suitcases and sacks. Many braved the cold overnight, camping near the gates as they waited to cross.

Muhammed Zin, 28, who fled Damascus in 2016, expressed relief and optimism. “Assad was shooting us, killing us. I will return to Syria now. Thank God, the war is over,” he told the Associated Press.

The fall of Assad has sparked celebrations among the 3 million Syrian refugees living in Turkey, some of whom replaced the Syrian Consulate’s flag with that of the opposition. Mustafa Sultan, 29, prepared to cross the border to reunite with his older brother, imprisoned under Assad’s rule. “I haven’t seen him for 13 years. The prisons have been emptied, so I am going to see whether he’s alive,” he said.

To ease the crowding, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced plans to open a third border crossing. He predicted that improved stability in Syria would lead to more voluntary returns.

“As Syria gains more stability, God willing, voluntary, safe, and honourable returns will increase,” Erdoğan stated. Turkey, which accepted hundreds of thousands of refugees at the start of Syria’s civil war in 2011, has faced growing domestic pressure to address the refugee crisis amid economic challenges. Erdoğan’s government has emphasized creating conditions for the safe and voluntary return of Syrians.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reaffirmed this commitment, saying, “We will continue our efforts to ensure the safe and voluntary return of Syrians and to rebuild the country.”

At Cilvegozu, only refugees with proper documentation were allowed to proceed. Zakariya Mori al-Shami, 31, who arrived in Turkey in 2019, was among those awaiting passage with his family. He plans to rebuild his home in Aleppo, destroyed during the conflict.

Sami Abdel-Latif, a construction worker from Hama, expressed hope for a new beginning as he prepared to reunite with his family. “Anything is better than Bashar,” he said.

For others, the return symbolizes freedom and renewal. Malak Matar, heading to Damascus, described the moment as transformative. “You feel yourself psychologically free — you can express yourself,” he said. “It’s a new phase. Syrians have to create a state that is well-organized and takes care of their country.”