Russian teen fatally stabs four friends at birthday party in small Siberian town, then dies in fire
Late last night in a small town in Russia’s Irkutsk region, a 17-year-old attacked his acquaintances with a knife, killing four teenagers and injuring four others before reportedly setting fire to the dacha where they had gathered to celebrate a birthday. The attacker died in the blaze, authorities said. According to reports, earlier in the evening he had made unwanted sexual advances toward a 14-year-old girl at the party, and several other teenagers stepped in to defend her. Here’s what we know so far about the mass killing in Baikalsk, a town of around 13,000 residents.
Four teenagers were killed and four more injured in a knife attack in the town of Baikalsk, in Russia’s Irkutsk region, on Tuesday night, according to Russia’s Investigative Committee.
Police said the attack took place at a dacha just outside of town. A group of teenagers had gathered there with their parents’ permission to celebrate a birthday, Governor Igor Kobzev said, citing Baikalsk Mayor Vasily Temgenevsky. At some point during the evening, one of the teenagers attacked the others with a knife, then set fire to the house. The attacker died in the fire, the Investigative Committee reported.
Further details emerged from Russian Telegram channels with ties to law enforcement. According to Baza and Babr Mash, 14 people had gathered at the summer house to celebrate the birthday of a 15-year-old girl named Anastasia. The attacker was identified by the channel VChK-OGPU as 17-year-old Mikhail Paramonov. The dacha belonged to his older brother. Baikalsk’s mayor said the teens had been drinking alcohol during the evening. Some of them left before nightfall, while others stayed, according to Tatyana Afanasyeva, the Irkutsk region’s commissioner for children’s rights.
According to Baza and VChK-OGPU, Mikhail began harassing a 14-year-old girl named Viktoria, pressuring her to have sex. When she refused, other teens intervened, and Mikhail was reportedly “sent to bed.” Later that night, once everyone had fallen asleep, Mikhail attacked them. Babr Mash reported that three boys and one girl were killed. Baza said he used a utility knife to carry out the attack.
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Baza and Shot named the victims as 13-year-old Nikolai, 14-year-olds Vadim and Oybek, and 16-year-old Polina. The Investigative Committee, however, reported that a 14-year-old girl was among those killed.
During the attack, a 15-year-old girl named Veronika pretended to be dead, Baza reported. When Mikhail stepped into another room, she fled the house and ran to neighbors for help. They called the police.
After the attack, Mikhail allegedly set the house on fire. Shot reported that by the time police arrived, he had opened a gas valve, triggering an explosion. According to Baza, Viktoria managed to escape just moments before the blast, after seeing Mikhail tampering with the gas.
Four wounded teens were hospitalized. One 14-year-old boy, who was stabbed in the neck, is in critical condition, Governor Kobzev said. Mash reported that two victims — a boy and a girl — are currently in intensive care.
In the aftermath of the killings, officials set up an emergency response center in Baikalsk. Local authorities have declared a three-day mourning period in the town.
