Teenager attacks Nizhnekamsk lyceum with knife, injures cleaner

On the morning of Thursday, January 22, a student from Lyceum No. 37 in Nizhnekamsk, wearing a frightening scarf and tactical gloves, burst into his school with a knife. He struck a cleaner, with the blade hitting her arm. Schoolchildren report that during class they heard gunshot sounds in the corridor. Officially, it is reported that the attacker set off three firecrackers and fired a shot from a «signal device,» with no data on firearms yet.

«We were sitting in the first lesson—algebra, when over the loudspeaker they started saying something quickly and unintelligibly, after that two explosions sounded in the corridor, we ran to hide and a shot, then groans were heard in the corridor. We sat like that for about 20 more minutes. Soon we were led out and they say there was blood on the second floor,» a classmate of the attacker told 116.RU.

After the announcement over the loudspeaker, students sat in the classroom for about 20 more minutes, after which everyone was led outside and sent home.

«They say there was blood on the second floor,» the boy noted.

The attacking teenager studies in the 7 «D» class. According to a classmate, he always behaved strangely, but he wasn«t bullied at school.

«He had good friends. But [he] disliked girls,» the interlocutor from 116.RU noted.

The classmate added that the attacking schoolboy liked groups on the topic of terrorism.

None of the children were harmed; they were evacuated. The teenager was detained by officers from Rosgvardiya (the National Guard of Russia) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tatarstan.

The mayor of Nizhnekamsk, Radmir Belyaev, arrived at the scene. The city head voiced details of what happened.

«According to preliminary information, he set off three firecrackers, after which he attacked the cleaner and hid. Then we detained him. Work is being done with him, parents are at the school,» Belyaev reported.

In Rosgvardiya, it was reported that a knife, mask, and tactical gloves were confiscated from the detained student.

Teenagers note that in their school, metal detector frames are at the entrance, but the seventh-grader still brought the knife into the school. Law enforcement agencies will now assess this.

From the statement of the prosecutor«s office of Tatarstan, it follows that the teenager attacked a school employee because they had a conflict. The victim needed medical help. The teenager also sustained injuries, after firing from the signal device, he was taken to the hospital.

A criminal case has been initiated under articles on attempted murder and negligence. The prosecutor«s office of Tatarstan intends to check whether the lyceum complied with education legislation requirements. The agency will assess the work of the system for preventing offenses and crimes among minors.

The Commissioner for Children«s Rights in Tatarstan, Svetlana Zakharova, pointed out that neither the teenager nor his family were previously registered. All circumstances of what happened are now being established.

«Once again, we appeal to parents: pay attention to changes in children»s behavior. Talk to them more often, take an interest in their life, how their day went, the child«s well-being, who they communicate with, in which messengers, what social networks, websites they visit, if there are virtual friends, what topics they discuss with them. Be close to your children,» she recommended on her official Telegram channel.

Svetlana Zakharova also reminded schoolchildren that if they have conflicts with peers, they can always call the children«s helpline or the Office of the Commissioner for Children»s Rights to get help solving the problem.

Children«s helpline: 8-800-200-01-22, office of the Commissioner for Children»s Rights in Tatarstan: 8 (843) 236-61-64.