Prime minister calls for stronger school safety measures after Marijampolė attack

Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has stressed that school safety “cannot be taken for granted” following a violent incident at a Marijampolė school, LRT reports.

Speaking on Monday, Ruginienė described the attack—where a 17-year-old student injured three classmates with a sharp object—as “truly shocking” and a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in educational institutions. “Safety in schools requires effort and attention from all of us,” she said.

The prime minister extended her support to the affected families and urged broader societal action beyond immediate crisis response. “We must focus not only on specific support tools but also on our children’s emotional well-being and psychological support measures,” she stated.

Ruginienė also highlighted the role of bullying culture, particularly on social media, where adults often underestimate its impact on youth. “To prevent such painful incidents in the future, we adults must set an example,” she said, calling for stronger preventive measures and community solidarity.

According to earlier reports, the incident occurred Tuesday morning when a 17-year-old boy allegedly attacked two girls and another boy with a knife or similar object. All three victims were treated in hospital and released the same day. The suspect was later hospitalised in Kaunas.

School authorities and police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.