At a school in Azambuja, a town in the Lisbon district of Portugal, a 12-year-old boy stabbed six classmates with a knife. A female student sustained serious injuries, though her life was not in danger. The attack disrupted the school day and prompted swift responses from teachers, staff, and emergency services. Medical teams treated the wounded on site before transferring the most seriously injured to a hospital in Lisbon. Authorities described a quick and coordinated response as officers secured the area, students were moved to safety, and administrators began to support families. Regional and national authorities coordinated with the school to ensure the welfare of learners and staff while the investigation got underway. Officials emphasized that the scene was contained and that the focus remained on safety and accountability as details continued to emerge.
Investigators confirmed the victims were aged between 11 and 14. Five sustained minor injuries, while one girl suffered a chest wound that required transfer to a hospital in Lisbon. The Azambuja mayor, Silvino Lúcio, said the girl was not in life-threatening danger. The mayor and the police cited the need for a careful examination of the incident as the judicial authorities prepared to lead the inquiry, with support from the National Republican Guard. The report from the GNR and statements from officials indicated a rapid assessment of the incident and its impact on the school community.
Lúcio explained that the attacker had left class for lunch and returned with a knife and a bulletproof vest in his backpack, then began to attack several classmates. The mayor added that nothing in the early observations suggested such conduct. The GNR noted that the motives behind the assault remained unknown and that the assailant had appeared calm and cooperative as police prepared to hand him over to the Judicial Police for the investigation. The authorities stressed that the situation was under control and that investigators would determine the sequence of events and the reasoning behind the attack.
The rest of the students exited the campus and were handed over to their parents as staff provided supervision and support for those affected and families were kept informed of next steps.
Authorities will continue to collect statements, review available evidence, and evaluate safety procedures to prevent a repeat incident. The event highlights ongoing concerns about violence in youth settings and reinforces the need for continued prevention efforts in schools across Portugal and the wider region to protect students and staff from similar threats in the future.