Shock at Berlin elementary school: 12-year-old seriously injured with knife!

Shock at Berlin elementary school: 12-year-old seriously injured with knife!

On Thursday, a twelve-year-old boy was seriously injured with a stabbing weapon at a primary school in Berlin. This frightening event sheds further light on violence in schools, a topic that has been increasingly discussed in recent years. Police found a kitchen knife at the scene that may have been used in the attack. The suspected perpetrator, a 13-year-old boy, is currently the focus of the investigation and is being sought by the Missing Persons Unit at the State Criminal Police Office. ZVW reports that the 13-year-old's parents filed a missing person report after he didn't come home.

The investigation is now concentrating on the surroundings of the missing boy. The police are questioning friends and acquaintances of the family and are also investigating in other federal states, such as Lower Saxony, in order to obtain possible clues. The homicide squad is taking over further investigations in this case in order to clarify the exact background to the crime.

Violence in schools in focus

The recent incidents are not just isolated cases, but reflect a growing problem. According to police crime statistics from April 2024, an increase in the number of children and young people suspected of crimes has been observed, after several years of decline. In Germany, almost 50% of teachers report that they observe violence among students, indicating the urgency of this issue. Statista highlights that violence-related accidents among students increased in 2022, although they did not reach pre-pandemic levels.

Particularly alarming is the fact that over 12% of 15-year-olds say they experience bullying several times a month, and almost 6% report physical bullying. In elementary schools, over 20% of fourth graders reported being beaten at least once a week. In addition, 17% of the children and young people surveyed do not feel safe from violence in their schools.

Prevention measures and demands

In order to counteract this worrying development, over 80% of the parents surveyed are calling for anti-violence training in schools. Various programs to prevent violence, including training on children's rights, are already in place, but many teachers, especially in socially disadvantaged schools, report an increasing willingness to use violence among young people. The Daily Mirror points out that cyberbullying is also a growing problem as children become online at an increasingly early age.

The current situation in schools requires urgent action. Both school and social conditions must be critically examined in order to break the cycle of violence.