On Monday, Dec. 15, authorities in Jelenia Góra announced the death of an 11‑year‑old girl, whose body was found 200 metres from her school; a knife was seized and a 12‑year‑old schoolmate was arrested.
Discovery and Evidence
On Monday, 15 December, the police in Jelenia Góra announced that the body of an 11‑year‑old girl was found about 200 metres from her school. The medical rescue team arrived to find her already deceased, with wounds caused by a sharp instrument. Forensic investigators seized a knife, referred to locally as a “finka”.
12‑Year‑Old Arrested
Police have detained a 12‑year‑old girl who attended the same school as the victim. The teenager allegedly knew the victim visually but were not close friends. According to spokesperson Ewa Węglarowicz‑Makowska, the suspect had no prior legal problems.
Psychological Factors Behind Child Violence
Expert Dr. Beata Rajba explained that children who commit such acts are often emotionally lost, angry, fearful and impulsive. Victims of domestic or peer violence may seek power in a group or carry weapons for self‑defence. She cautioned against premature judgments, stressing the need for interview and observation to uncover underlying causes.
Possible Motives for Extreme Violence
The psychologist noted that each case is unique. Motives can include attempts to dominate, steal, coerce, or retaliate against an unrelated harm. Sometimes the tragedy arises when a child defends herself against peer violence and ends up dying or killing the perpetrator. Revenge is rare, and a child is never inherently bad; their behaviour stems from many adverse factors and extreme suffering.
Prevention and Support Measures
Rajba suggested a functional system of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care that enables parents and teachers to react effectively when a child shows signs of distress. She advocated for school‑based workshops that build emotional development, self‑control and awareness of violence consequences. She added that many schools have not yet adopted such programs. The key element is a trusted adult—parent, teacher or other—who offers predictable support in critical situations.
Help Resources
For children or youths in crisis contact the Safe Phone for Children and Youth at 116 111. Parents and teachers can consult the Foundation “We Give Children Strength” or the Polish Health‑Crisis Support system at the provided URLs. In case of immediate risk, call the police at 112 or go to the nearest psychiatric hospital.
