Ho Chi Minh City education department gives initial account of Thạnh An school attack

Ho Chi Minh City’s education department has released its initial account of an attack at Thạnh An Lower and Upper Secondary School in which a 15-year-old student injured five classmates with a sharp weapon.

The incident took place at about 6:35 a.m. on September 4, before classes began, in a student bathroom. The student, who was in seventh grade, allegedly used a sharp object to injure five other students from the same school.

School security officers and staff intervened after discovering the incident. They controlled the situation, provided first aid and took the injured students to medical facilities. The students were later transferred to Children’s Hospital 2 and the second facility of Từ Dũ Hospital for continued treatment. The school also worked with Thạnh An commune police and other relevant forces to verify what happened.

The education department said the student had received special educational attention and support from the school. Specialists are assessing the student’s physical and psychological condition, and the department said it would not draw conclusions about the cause or psychological state before the investigation and professional assessments are complete.

As of September 6, the injured students were generally stable. One had been discharged, while the others remained under observation and treatment. The department described the incident as serious and said any responsibility would be considered on the basis of official findings, within the proper authority and in accordance with regulations, while protecting the children’s legal rights and interests. It also ordered schools to review measures for preventing and detecting safety risks, with closer monitoring at gates, corridors, stairways, bathrooms and other areas outside direct supervision.

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The review and handling must be objective, cautious and within the proper authority. No conclusion should be drawn about the cause or the student's psychological state until verification and professional assessment have been completed.