Danko and Matovic Condemn Knife Attack at Secondary School

Bratislava, January 16 (TASR) - Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Andrej Danko condemned the student attack at a grammar school in the town of Spisska Stara Ves in Presov region and expressed his condolences to the victims' families, while the opposition movement 'Slovakia' called on Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) to resign, claiming that Fico is directly responsible for the tragedy. Danko condemned any form of violence at Thursday's press conference, expressing his disbelief over how a young boy could attack his classmates and a teacher. "Respect and honour are disappearing, and people are arguing within families," he stated, adding it's necessary to reflect on how to stop the growing hatred in society. The 'Slovakia' party stated that just two days ago, Fico recommended that students should be slapped for their opinions. According to the party, the premier is the one who shapes people's opinions. "When he says that students should be slapped, it has tragic consequences. Fico has direct responsibility for spreading hatred and all the tragic consequences it brings. I call on Robert Fico to immediately leave his position as premier because it was him who called for violence against students in the public space," stated the leader of the party, Igor Matovic. "I express my sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of this horrific act," he added. Two people are reported dead after a knife attack at a secondary grammar school in the town of Spisska Stara Ves in Presov region. The Emergency Medical Service Operational Centre also confirmed that one patient is in critical condition. The number of other people injured hasn't been established yet. The police have already arrested an 18-year-old student suspected of committing the serious crime. lin/mcs