A 16-year-old girl who stabbed a 14-year-old classmate inside a middle school in Athens has been placed in pretrial detention after testifying before a juvenile investigating magistrate, Greek authorities said.

According to information from the hearing, the teenager appeared remorseful and claimed she carried the knife for self-defense, citing past experiences of bullying and an alleged attempted sexual assault. She told investigators that she did not intend to seriously harm her classmate but lost control after hearing insulting comments directed at her.

Following her testimony, the court ordered her detention. At the same time, prosecutors opened a separate case involving her parents, launching a preliminary investigation into possible neglect of a minor.

The incident took place at a middle school in the Kypseli neighborhood of Athens, where the 16-year-old had transferred just one week earlier after being expelled from another school for inappropriate behavior. Witnesses have described a pattern of aggressive conduct, including verbal abuse toward teachers and classmates and other disruptive acts.

During the court proceedings, neither of the girl’s parents was present. The teenager reportedly appeared alone and later questioned why no family member had attended the hearing. Her parents later said they were unable to be there because of work obligations.

In her statement, the teenager said she believed the victim was among those speaking negatively about her and that she reacted in a moment of intense anger. “I regret what happened and I apologize,” she said, according to reports. She also asked about the condition of the injured student, who survived the attack.

The girl’s father later spoke publicly, expressing remorse and apologizing to the victim’s family. He claimed he was unaware his daughter was carrying a knife and said she had previously told him she feared for her safety after an alleged assault attempt. He denied any history of violence at home and described his daughter as troubled but intelligent, struggling to manage her emotions.

The stabbing has reignited concerns about violence among minors and school safety. Students at the school have staged protests, saying psychological support services are insufficient. The school remains under tension, with repeated student demonstrations reported.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, as authorities seek to clarify the circumstances that led to the attack and assess the broader environment surrounding the teenager’s behavior.