A 12-year-old student at Sofia’s School No. 94 in the Hristo Botev neighborhood was hospitalized on Tuesday morning after being stabbed by an older classmate. The Sofia Police Department confirmed that the incident occurred during recess shortly after 10:00 a.m.
Emergency medical teams arrived promptly and transported the injured child to Pirogov Hospital, where he was admitted to the trauma unit with a deep cut to his shoulder. Hospital officials stated that the boy is out of danger and recovering under medical supervision.
Police identified the assailant as a 15-year-old eighth-grader who also attended the same school. According to preliminary reports, the two students had no history of conflict or behavioral issues.
The principal of School No. 94, Lidiya Yarnova, described both students as “extremely meek and calm,” noting that neither had shown signs of aggression in the past.
“These are calm children, without any manifestations or tension between them,” Yarnova said. “Even the class teacher reacted immediately and appropriately to the situation.”
Yarnova also said it remains unclear how the knife came into the student’s possession. She emphasized that the school maintains strict safety guidelines and that staff regularly remind students about prohibited items on campus.
Authorities revealed that the attacker comes from a difficult family background — his father is deceased, and he is currently under the care of his grandparents. The knife used in the assault was recovered by police, and the 15-year-old was detained for questioning. Both families were notified and are cooperating with investigators.
The principal stressed that the stabbing appeared to have happened as a “joke gone wrong” rather than a premeditated act of violence. “There was no animosity between the children or their families,” Yarnova said. “It happened in a moment of carelessness during the short break.”
Police have launched an investigation to determine whether negligence, bullying, or deeper social issues may have contributed to the incident. Child protection services are also expected to become involved, given the assailant’s family circumstances.
This disturbing event follows another violent episode involving minors in Sofia. Just two days earlier, a 15-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in a shopping mall and later died at Pirogov Hospital.
The recent string of youth-related attacks has raised alarm among parents and educators, prompting calls for stricter monitoring of weapons and stronger social programs to address aggression among minors.
As the 12-year-old continues his recovery, education officials and law enforcement authorities are urging vigilance, empathy, and proactive measures to prevent further tragedies in Bulgarian schools.