A shocking incident unfolded this morning at a vocational school in Essen, Germany, where a teacher was stabbed by a student, sparking panic among staff and pupils.
According to reports from Bild, the attacker — an 18-year-old Kosovar Albanian — fled the scene after stabbing his teacher in the stomach inside the school premises in the Bildungspark area of Nordviertel. The teacher, who sustained serious injuries, was immediately transported to the University Hospital in Essen. Doctors later confirmed that she is out of life-threatening danger.
Following the attack, chaos erupted inside the school. Several dozen students locked themselves inside classrooms as part of the school’s emergency lockdown protocol for armed assaults. Others were treated on-site by medical teams for shock, either because they witnessed the stabbing firsthand or attempted to assist the victim before paramedics arrived.
At approximately 11:00 a.m., police located the suspect in a park near the city’s central station. When members of the SEK special intervention unit attempted to apprehend him, the teenager charged at them armed with a knife. Officers opened fire, seriously wounding the suspect. Emergency responders intubated him on site before transporting him to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Essen Mayor Thomas Kufen (CDU) rushed to the scene to oversee developments. Police cordoned off the surrounding area and urged citizens to avoid it temporarily. A police helicopter was deployed to monitor the situation from above throughout the operation.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the motive behind the attack. It also remains unclear whether the student was present during the class or entered the room specifically to target the teacher. Investigations are ongoing.