The attacker has been taken into custody, though authorities have not yet identified a motive for the attack.
Six children were stabbed by a 12-year-old boy at a school in Azambuja, near Lisbon, on Tuesday. Portuguese national police reported that the victims were between 11 and 14 years old.
Azambuja Mayor Silvino Lúcio confirmed that one boy was seriously injured with a chest wound, but his life is not in danger.
He was transferred to a hospital in Lisbon.
Five girls sustained minor injuries to their arms, The Associated Press reports.
The attacker has been taken into custody, though authorities have not yet identified a motive for the attack.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro condemned the incident and extended wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured children.
He posted on social media platform X, calling the incident an “isolated attack” and rare in the country.
“It was an isolated act and a strange occurrence in Portuguese society, but one that should make everyone who works in public space reflect with a sense of responsibility,” Montenegro wrote.
This event has shaken the normally peaceful community, and the investigation is ongoing as authorities try to piece together the circumstances surrounding the attack.