Grocka: teenager stabbed on bus line 302
A 17-year-old suffered two chest wounds in a night-time attack on public transport. A suspect of the same age has been arrested and prosecutors have taken over the case.
- A 17-year-old, identified as V.J., was stabbed overnight between May 29 and May 30 on bus line 302 in Grocka.
- The victim suffered two chest wounds and cuts to the hand, and was rushed to the Emergency Centre in a serious condition.
- Police arrested a suspect of the same age, I.M. (17), who was found carrying a knife.
- Belgrade's High Public Prosecutor's Office has taken over the case and is filing an attempted murder charge.
A 17-year-old boy, identified as V.J., was stabbed overnight between May 29 and May 30 on a city bus running line 302 in Grocka. The teenager suffered two wounds to the chest and cuts to his hand, and was rushed to the Emergency Centre in a serious condition.
According to unofficial information, the attacker approached the victim as soon as he boarded the bus and began stabbing him without any apparent provocation. Other passengers found themselves in the middle of an attack that lasted only moments.
What is known about the case?
The Grocka police station quickly located and arrested the suspect. He is a peer of the victim, a minor identified as I.M. (17), who was found carrying a knife at the time of his arrest. The suspect faces charges that prosecutors regard as bearing the hallmarks of the gravest crime against life and limb.
Belgrade’s High Public Prosecutor’s Office has taken over the investigation and is filing an attempted murder charge. As both the suspect and the victim are minors, the proceedings will follow the rules for juvenile offenders, with the identities of both boys protected.
What happens next?
Doctors at the Emergency Centre are working to stabilise the injured 17-year-old. The investigation has yet to establish whether the two knew each other beforehand and what preceded the attack on public transport.
The case once again raises the question of how safe minors are on city transport and points to a growing number of incidents involving blades among young people. Until prosecutors release the findings of their inquiry, the motive remains unknown.
Does public transport today do enough to protect its youngest passengers?
