A 16-year-old Latvian high school student has stabbed and injured four of his classmates, claiming afterwards he was influenced by a movie, officials say.
Latvian state police spokeswoman Ieva Reksna says the boy escaped after the attack, which happened in the western city of Ventspils.
"The police detained him soon afterwards, and the boy told them he had been following a movie script when he stabbed the four youngsters," she said, adding that the boy did not say which film he was imitating.
The school's headmistress, Parsla Kopmane, says the boy "has a craze for computer games".
"He was late for school, and came to class with two knives," said .
The teenager stabbed and injured two boys and a girl inside his classroom, and a third boy was attacked as he ran for safety.
All four victims were taken to hospital, but were discharged after treatment for light injuries.
Ms Kopmane says pupils involved in the incident, including the attacker, will receive psychological counselling, .
The police detained the suspect at his home, where they found him sitting in front of a computer with two knives next to him.
"He said he had wanted to commit suicide after the attacks, and there were indications that he had attempted to, before he was detained," the police spokeswoman said.
Police are questioning the suspect, who faces up to three years in jail if found guilty of assault.
