Slovakia: police guard father of 13-year-old school attacker

Slovak police are guarding the father of the 13-year-old who stabbed a teacher and a schoolgirl to death in Štaškov. Police president Jana Maškarová said on television that security in the village has been stepped up because the attacker's father could also become a target of revenge.

“After the attack, we ensured security in the village of Štaškov. Some people side with the perpetrator, others with the victims. We are protecting the father too, because he could also become a victim of an attack,” Maškarová said.

What is known about the attack

The schoolboy killed 61-year-old teacher Božena Mariaková and his 14-year-old classmate Nela. He seriously wounded another teacher, 44-year-old Ivana. The boy's father had recently been released from prison, where he was serving a sentence for a drug-related offence.

Mother in custody

The attacker's mother has been taken into custody over fears that she will continue her criminal activity. According to testimony cited in the court ruling, on the evening of the tragedy, 29 September, she attacked boys at a bus stop near the railway station and threatened to kill the children and the school principal.

One of the underage witnesses said he asked the woman where her son was, after which she ran up, began shouting and threatened to kill him. According to the boy, she pushed him twice while he was sitting on his bike and hit him on the back of the head, knocking off his glasses. Another witness also described blows to the head and threats against the whole group and the school.

The 30-year-old, Vanda, partly admitted her behaviour but said the threats were not serious and that she had acted in a state of emotional distress.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz