BUCHAREST — Romanian President Nicusor Dan has called for urgent action to protect children in classrooms and online after two violent school attacks within less than a week. Police said a 15-year-old attacked two classmates with a machete on Thursday in a high-school bathroom in Pitesti, while on Monday a 13-year-old stabbed and wounded a teacher and another pupil.
Dan described the incidents as “two signals that we can no longer afford to ignore,” urging safer schools, trained teachers, access to psychological counselling and stronger protection for minors online. Local media reported that the younger attacker had posted about his plans on social media shortly before the assault.
Romania’s newly installed government is scheduled to meet on Friday to discuss school-safety measures. The attacks come amid a broader rise in school violence across Europe this year, with authorities in Poland, France and Sweden also examining the influence of social media and online subcultures that glorify violence.