Teen knife attacker wounds students at Ufa medical university dorm

A teenage assailant entered a foreign students' dormitory at Bashkir State Medical University in Ufa and stabbed multiple people on the evening of February 7, leaving at least six injured, officials and student groups said. Indian diplomatic officials confirmed that four Indian students were among the wounded and consular staff travelled from Kazan to visit them in hospital.

Witnesses described chaos as residents fled and locked themselves into rooms. "It was a normal Saturday afternoon. My friends and I had just entered our rooms in hostel after purchasing groceries. We suddenly heard a loud noise and desperate screams from some students and rushed out. A youngster with a knife was charging at a few students. Many students who came out rushed inside their rooms and locked themselves inside out of fear," an unnamed third-year MBBS resident told The New Indian Express.

Local authorities said police intervened but officers were wounded while subduing the attacker. Maj General Irina Volk, quoted by Russian broadcaster RTVI, said the assailant "resisted arrest, during which two police officers were stabbed. Furthermore, the suspect also inflicted bodily harm on himself." Regional news agencies reported the suspect, admitted to a children's hospital, was in serious condition after self-inflicted injuries.

Tribuneindia and other outlets identified the suspect as a 15-year-old local schoolboy in class IX; The New Indian Express at one point described him as 16. Telegram eyewitness reports cited by some media suggested there may have been two attackers, but most authorities and outlets describe a single teenage assailant. Local accounts also said a hostel guard was wounded during the confrontation.

The Indian embassy in Moscow issued a statement, as reported by international outlets: "An unfortunate incident of attack has occurred in Ufa. Several persons including four Indian students have been injured." Tribuneindia quoted the mission as saying, "They are stable and recovering well. Our consul officer met them today in the hospital and also met other students in the hostel." The New Indian Express named the four students as Gaurav, Avinash, Harideep and Harshwardhan and reported that Gaurav, a native of Maharashtra, had been stabbed in the abdomen and was critical; that account and the mission update reflect differing condition reports that authorities are clarifying.

Investigators have opened multiple inquiries. The Investigative Committee and regional prosecutors launched probes into the attack, and local authorities reportedly opened a case of gross dereliction of duty against university and juvenile prevention officials over security lapses. Media outlets and some Telegram channels reported that investigators were examining the teenager's online footprint and possible extremist links; the Baza channel alleged the suspect belonged to a banned neo-Nazi group and other outlets reported claims that a Nazi symbol was drawn in blood on a wall. Those allegations are under investigation and have not been confirmed by prosecutors.

Student groups in India pressed for action. The All India Medical Students Association, in a letter cited by Timesnownews, wrote that it was "with deep concern and anguish regarding the recent violent attack on four Indian medical students at Bashkir State Medical University, Russia" and warned the incident had created fear among thousands of Indian students studying abroad.

The assault has spotlighted safety concerns at institutions hosting large foreign student populations. Nearly 3,000 Indian students study at BSMU, according to The New Indian Express, part of a broader cohort of Indians enrolled across Russian universities. Authorities in Bashkortostan said they would provide further details as forensic and criminal investigations proceed.