Russia University knife attack in Ufa leaves 4 Indian students injured: Here's what we know

A knife attack at a university dormitory in Russia’s Bashkortostan Republic left at least six people injured, including four Indian students, after a 15-year-old youth allegedly linked to a banned neo-Nazi organisation went on a stabbing spree on Saturday.

The incident took place at the State Medical University in Ufa, where the teenager reportedly entered a dormitory housing foreign students and attacked residents with a knife. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and panic inside the hostel. Russian television channel Ren TV quoted witnesses as saying there was “blood all around,” and showed visuals of injured students being rushed to hospitals in ambulances.

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What happened at the State Medical University in Ufa?

According to preliminary reports, the attacker shouted nationalist slogans referencing the Holocaust during the assault. The Baza Telegram channel claimed that the teenager was associated with the violent neo-Nazi outfit National Socialism / White Power (NS/WP) Crew, also known as Sparrows Crew, which was designated a terrorist organisation by Russia’s Supreme Court in 2021.

The group has previously been linked to attacks on journalists, including Anna Politkovskaya. Baza also aired footage showing a swastika drawn on a dormitory wall, allegedly using the blood of one of the victims.

Russia’s Interior Ministry confirmed that the accused stabbed several students before resisting arrest. “The attacker resisted arrest, during which two police officers were stabbed. Furthermore, the suspect also inflicted bodily harm on himself,” Interior Ministry spokesperson Major General Irina Volk was quoted as saying by RTVI.com.

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The Russian Federal Health Ministry said that one of the injured is in critical condition, while three others are in moderate condition. The accused has been admitted to a local children’s hospital in serious condition.

Indian Embassy in Moscow issues statement

The Indian Embassy in Moscow confirmed that four Indian students were among the injured, "An unfortunate incident of an attack has occurred in Ufa. Several persons, including four Indian students, have been injured,” the embassy said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), adding that officials from the Consulate in Kazan are travelling to Ufa to assist the students.

Authorities in Ufa, located about 1,200 km east of Moscow, have launched a high-level investigation into the incident.