Two women were killed in a knife attack at a school in Slovakia

Two women, aged 18 and 51, were killed and a third young woman was injured when a student carried out a knife attack at a school in eastern Slovakia.

Local police initially said the suspect, an 18-year-old gymnasium student, was on the run and urged people not to approach him.

However, he was arrested a short time later. “We assure the public that all necessary measures are being taken to make you feel safe,” the police said.

They added that the teenager’s victims were two fellow students and a teacher.

The Ministry of Interior said in a statement, “Thanks to the quick arrest of the suspect, there is currently no immediate danger and the police are taking further necessary measures to ensure his safety.”

The Minister of Education and the Minister of the Interior went to the scene, and Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed his condolences to the survivors.

The attack occurred in Spisska Stara Ves, a village of 2,000 people near the Polish border about 380 kilometers (230 miles) northeast of the capital, Bratislava, at around 1:00 local time (12:00 GMT).

TA3 said several emergency medical crews went to the scene.

The Slovak Student Union said in a statement that it was “shaken” by the events.

“Schools should be a place where young people grow, learn and dream of a better future. Instead, we are witnessing violence and hate finding their way into our classrooms,” the statement said.