A 15-year-old student shot and killed his teacher during class Monday in a town in southern Estonia the first known school shooting in the Baltic nation.
Four other students were in the classroom at Paalalinna School in the town of Viljandi, police spokeswoman said. The shooter was apprehended and no one else was injured in the early-afternoon attack at the school of 450 students.
Government officials said the victim was a 56-year-old female teacher of German. Police said they had no details about a possible motive.
Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas and Minister of the Interior Hanno Pevkur have also sent their condolences to the school and the victim’s family.
“Today’s shooting in Viljandi that has costs a teacher her life is a shock to us all. Estonia will have Viljandi in its thoughts tonight,” said the prime minister.
“We are yet to learn the reasons behind this incident but violence is never an acceptable solution. Things like this simply cannot happen. We all have the duty to notice the person next to us who needs our help. Today’s incident is a painful reminder of this fact. I offer my deepest sympathy to the family of the deceased teacher and to the school.”
Hanno Pevkur added: “Although the suspect, a pupil at the same school, has been apprehended and no more lives are in immediate danger, this does not bring back the life we lost today or our sense of security. There should be no place for violence in our society, especially in our schools.”
