A seventh-grade student armed with a knife and a pepper spray canister injured seven people at School No. 2 in the Siberian town of Kansk on Tuesday.
The victims of the morning violence included five children and two adults, all of whom required medical treatment after the girl launched the attack shortly before a formal school assembly.
The assault was halted when the mother of one of the pupils rushed to assist the teachers on scene, physically pushing the teenage attacker out of the room and into a school hallway.
Detectives and forensic investigators from local law enforcement agencies were deployed to the educational facility immediately following the incident to inspect the crime scene and gather evidence.
Account of the attack inside the school
Physics teacher Olga Kostrova said the seventh-grade girl discharged the pepper spray directly at several teachers without warning as people gathered inside the building.
Kostrova explained that the student sprayed anyone who happened to stand in her path, causing immediate harm to staff members whose eyes were directly hit by the chemical irritant.
Medical assistance was administered on site to the teachers who suffered direct eye exposure, before emergency service teams arrived at the educational institution.
Following the pepper spray discharge, the teenager drew a knife, prompting the mother of a student to intervene and force the attacker into the corridor before further injuries could occur.
Ambulance crews transported all seven victims, consisting of five children and two adults, to the Kansk Interdistrict Hospital for comprehensive medical evaluation.
Officials from the Ministry of Health of Krasnoyarsk Krai confirmed that doctors examined all seven patients and provided necessary medical treatment before discharging them for outpatient monitoring.
Kansk is an industrial town located along the Trans-Siberian Railway in Krasnoyarsk Krai, a vast region situated in Central Siberia. Kansk Interdistrict Hospital serves as the primary regional healthcare center for the municipality and surrounding rural areas.
The attack occurred on September 1, a date celebrated annually across Russia as Knowledge Day. The holiday marks the official commencement of the new academic year and is traditionally observed with ceremonial assemblies, known as line-ups, and introductory homeroom classes for students and parents.
Suspect behavior and school history
Eyewitnesses at the school reported observing erratic and unusual behavior from the teenager prior to the incident, noting that she appeared extremely nervous and exhibited noticeably dilated pupils.
An eyewitness speaking to the Russian news outlet Baza stated that the girl had wild eyes shortly before she began spraying teachers in the building.
Reporting by Baza indicated that the seventh-grade girl had spent approximately two hours inside the school building on Tuesday morning prior to the outbreak of violence.
Before the start of a scheduled homeroom class, the teenager reportedly went to a school restroom and locked herself inside, before emerging into the area armed with both the knife and the pepper spray canister.
According to Baza, the student had no prior record of serious disciplinary issues or major conflicts at School No. 2. However, school staff had previously reprimanded her regarding her personal appearance, requesting that she refrain from wearing provocative clothing or makeup to school.
Investigators from law enforcement authorities remain active at the scene to establish the full timeline of events and determine the motive behind the attack.
