German school horror as pupil, 16, stabs and seriously wounds eight-year-old schoolboy then sets himself on fire

A 16-year-old pupil today stabbed and seriously wounded an eight-year-old schoolboy before setting himself on fire in a case that has sent shockwaves through Germany.

The teenager ran through an elementary school building in Bischofswerda, east of the city of Dresden, while wielding a knife before launching his savage attack on the child.

The attacker, who has not yet been named, stabbed the little boy in his head and neck before being tackled by armed police officers who had surrounded the elementary school, which is attached to a secondary school. 

The victim, a third grader, was seriously injured in the attack and was rushed to hospital by helicopter. Medics said his condition is stable. 

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The 16-year-old reportedly set himself on fire before being overpowered by the police officers and was also taken to hospital.

Ambulances stand in the schoolyard of an elementary and high school in Bischofswerda following the knife attack on Wednesday

Police vehicles are parked in the schoolyard of a primary and secondary school in Bischofswerda after a 16-year-old pupil stabbed a schoolboy, eight on Wednesday 

A terrified teacher had called police at around 9.40am – and just minutes later a flurry of armed police officers surrounded the school and evacuated all children from classrooms. 

‘The act is a heavy psychological burden for everyone. The family members and children are being looked after by a crisis intervention team,’ police spokesman Maximilian Funke told Bild.  

This is a breaking news story, more to follow…