Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov during the Government session instructed to work on measures to improve safety in schools.

According to First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Marat Kozhayev, in the morning of 13 February the Petropavlovsk Police Department received a report of bodily harm to pupils of secondary school №4. An investigative and operational group of the Provincial Police Department immediately went to the scene of the incident.

It was established that the suspect (a grade 9 student) had put on a makeshift white mask in the first floor toilet and ran out into the corridor with an axe in his hands, where he attacked three students of the school. On seeing what was happening, other senior students and teachers who came to the scene apprehended the attacker.

Two of the injured schoolchildren are now in the city hospital in a stable condition. The third victim received medical care without hospitalization.

A criminal case has been initiated under part 3 of article 24 and part 2 of article 99 of the Criminal Code, the suspect has been taken to the temporary detention facility.

Having heard the report, Alikhan Smailov stressed that an unusual incident took place in Petropavlovsk which caused great concern in the society.

"The issue of safety is of concern to everyone who has children. As we can see, even inside the school there are risks. There is a need to revisit safety standards and conduct inspections of all educational institutions. In addition, we need to increase the number of video cameras and consider strengthening of control at school entrances," Prime Minister pointed out. 

In this regard, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Internal Affairs to make coordinated proposals to improve the safety of pupils, the Ministry of Healthcare to take a special control of the treatment of injured children, the Ministry of Information and Social Development together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry for Emergency Situations to develop thematic safety lessons.