A security guard and eight students were gunned down at a school in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, this Wednesday (3). According to the country’s authorities, six more schoolchildren and a history teacher were wounded by the detained student.

A student killed 9 people with firearms at a school in Serbia – Photo: AFP/ND

“Eight children and a guard were killed as a result of a shooting that took place this morning at the primary school named after Vladislav Rybnikar in Vracar, six children and a teacher were injured and hospitalized,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

The suspect, a 14-year-old teenager, was found in the schoolyard and detained. The department said that the young man “is suspected of having shot several times at students and a school security guard with a pistol that belonged to his father.”

“All police forces are on site and are working to clarify the facts and circumstances that led to this tragedy,” the ministry said.

The guard “tried to avoid the tragedy and was the first victim,” Vracar Mayor Milan Nedeljkovic said. “Probably, the tragedy would have been even greater if this man had not stood in front of the young man who shot,” he added. He also said that the teacher is in critical condition.

Schools in Belgrade are closed.

Shortly after the attack, which took place around 8:40 am (3:40 GMT), police cordoned off the school perimeter in front of astonished parents, where several ambulances were sent to transport the wounded. .

Milika Asanin, director of Belgrade’s main hospital, said the wounded were being operated on. “One student is in serious condition with gunshot wounds to the chest and neck, and another student was wounded in the shin,” he told local news channel RTS.

“The student was wounded in the stomach and both arms, and the teacher was wounded in the stomach and both arms,” he added.

According to state media, all schools in Belgrade were closed after the shooting. Astrid Merlini, whose daughter is a student at the attacked school, said teachers quickly hid the children during the shooting.

“When my daughter saw the guard fall, she ran back to the room. Frightened, she told the teacher that there was a shootout, ”Merlini said.

“The teacher immediately secured the children by locking the room,” he added. Gun violence in schools in Serbia is rare, so buying a firearm requires a special permit.