A 14-year-old girl was hospitalized with defensive knife wounds after being attacked by a classmate at a junior high school in the Kypseli district Wednesday, the latest incident in a disturbing surge of juvenile violence across Greece.
The attack occurred at the shared complex of the 15th and 60th Athens Junior High Schools. Authorities said the victim was rushed to the principal’s office bleeding before being transported to the Aglaia Kyriakou Children’s Hospital.
A representative of the Hellenic Federation of Public Hospital Workers told Mega TV the student was "fortunate to be alive," noting she managed to block the blade with her hand, preventing a potentially fatal blow to her abdomen.
Police detained the alleged attacker, a female student who reportedly had been transferred to the school recently due to prior behavioral issues.
She was taken to Athens police headquarters for questioning, while teachers provided statements.
The incident highlights a growing national crisis.
Clinical psychologist Ilia Theotoka estimates that 4,000 to 5,000 Greek teens are treated annually for injuries related to peer violence.
"The causes are many," Ms. Theotoka said, citing desensitization from global conflicts and violent digital content. She also pointed to the lingering effects of the economic crisis.
"Families often lack the time to engage with their children… juvenile delinquency increases without families even noticing it."