2 girls seriously injured in random knife attack at school in Germany

Two 13-year-old girls were seriously injured when a 16-year-old former student armed with a gun and several knives attacked them at a school in southern Germany, according to officials. The suspect was arrested.

The attack happened at about 12:50 p.m. local time on Wednesday at Welfen-Gymnasium in Schongau, a town in Bavaria about 40 miles southwest of Munich.

Police said the 16-year-old approached the school with a firearm and fired one shot, but no one was hit. The weapon then apparently failed, and the suspect used one of several knives he was carrying to attack the two girls, Kreisbote reported, citing officials who spoke after the attack.

The two girls were able to get themselves to safety after the attack and were treated before being taken to hospitals. Officials described their injuries as very serious, but later said they were not life-threatening.

Police said the suspect acted alone and there was no evidence of additional attackers.

The suspect remained near the school after the attack and was overpowered by teachers and police, according to Kreisbote. The attacker was taken into custody.

Officials said the suspect is a former student at the school and was believed to have been in a psychological crisis. Police did not confirm whether any prior treatment was connected to the attack.

Police said the exact cause of the girls’ injuries remains under investigation, including whether they were injured by the knife, the gun or both. The school grounds were searched after the arrest as a standard precaution.