Romania’s Attorney General, Cristina Chiriac, called for a “firm, coordinated and immediate” response after the violent attacks in schools in Bistrița and Pitesti and warned that the authorities should not ignore online threats, manifestations of extremism or other signs that could indicate the preparation of acts of violence.
The reaction of the attorney general comes after two violent incidents in schools, three days apart. The first attack took place on Monday morning, at the “Ștefan cel Mare” Secondary School in Bistrita, where a 13-year-old student injured a teacher and a 12-year-old colleague with a knife. Thursday morning, at the “Armand Călinescu” Technical College in Pitesti, a 15-year-old student, from the 9th grade, attacked two colleagues with a machete, in the high school toilet, during a break. One of the assaulted boys suffered a forearm wound and was taken to hospital, and the other was physically assaulted.
“Violence in schools is unacceptable. Protecting the lives and integrity of children and teachers is a fundamental obligation of the state. The gravity of the recent incidents in educational institutions requires a firm, coordinated and immediate institutional response. The school must remain a space of education and safety, not a place where students and teachers are exposed to threats, aggression or acts of extreme violence,” Cristina Chiriac said.
The Attorney General pointed out that such cases cannot be treated only as school discipline issues, given that some of the acts committed may constitute crimes.
“The Public Ministry cannot remain indifferent in the face of such manifestations”, she emphasized, pointing out that any act of a criminal nature must be investigated with maximum responsibility, professionalism and speed, and the persons who violated the law must answer under the conditions provided by it.
“It is essential that the authorities understand that school violence is not solely an educational problem, but, in situations where crimes are committed, also a public order and law enforcement problem. Alarm signals must not be ignored until tragedies occur,” the Attorney General warned.
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Cristina Chiriac calls for increased attention to online threats and manifestations of extremism
In this context, Cristina Chiriac expressed her support for the Government’s initiative to strengthen cooperation between the Public Ministry, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Education and the institutions responsible for the protection of minors.
The collaboration between these institutions should allow the early identification of risk situations, the prevention of serious incidents and rapid intervention, respecting the legal powers of each authority.
At the same time, the general prosecutor drew attention that the firm application of the law must be accompanied by preventive measures, education and psychological counseling, so that the protection of students is not limited to interventions after the occurrence of aggressions.
“Special attention must be paid to online threats, manifestations of extremism, access to dangerous objects and any concrete indications of the preparation of acts of violence. At the same time, the intervention of the authorities must respect the rights of minors, the presumption of innocence and the principle of proportionality. Firmness in law enforcement does not exclude prevention, education and psychological support. On the contrary, they must work together. Safety in schools is not optional. It is an obligation to of the state and a right of every child and teacher”, she concluded.
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