A harrowing scene unfolded at Welfen-Gymnasium secondary school in Schongau, Upper Bavaria, when two 13-year-old students were seriously injured. The incident has sent shockwaves through the small town and surrounding community, leaving many to wonder how such a senseless act of violence could occur within the walls of an educational institution.
According to police, the arrested suspect, a 16-year-old teenager, was found in possession of both a knife and a firearm. While the full extent of the injuries sustained by the two girls remains unclear, authorities have indicated that their conditions are not believed to be life-threatening at this time. The identity of the suspect has yet to be disclosed, and it is still uncertain whether they had any direct connection to the school or its students.
Initial reports from a police spokeswoman to AFP news agency were somewhat ambiguous regarding the type of weapon used, but Bavaria's interior minister, Joachim Herrmann, later revealed to German public service broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) that unconfirmed indications suggested the girls had been stabbed. This detail has not yet been officially confirmed by police. Herrmann also mentioned that there were unconfirmed indications the suspect may be a former student who had previously undergone psychiatric treatment.
Police are treating the incident as a 'rampage' and believe that the 16-year-old acted alone. In response to the unfolding situation, a contact point has been established at a local fire station in Schongau to provide support for the relatives and parents of the students affected by the attack. The Welfen-Gymnasium, founded in 1887, has been a mixed-gender school since the late 1990s, having initially operated almost exclusively as a girls' school.
The small town of Schongau will undoubtedly be left to grapple with the aftermath of this traumatic event. As the investigation continues, it is hoped that more information will come to light regarding the motivations behind this senseless act of violence and how such incidents can be prevented in the future.