The 15-year-old boy accused of attempting to bomb Ballito Junction in March is suspected of carrying out another attack, this time allegedly stabbing a six-year-old girl at an Umhlali school today (October 13), reports the North Coast Courier.

“You’ll pay for what you did to me, [names removed], anyone from [school name removed] 2024,” read part of a 10-page manifesto the teenager allegedly published on a Telegram group shortly before the March 29 alleged attempted bombing. 

The document set out what appeared to be the author’s motives, ideology and plans for an attack. The author also referred to two earlier incidents, claiming he had attempted to stab a girl at another school in 2024 and pepper-sprayed shoppers at another Ballito mall. In addition, he said he admired the perpetrators of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in the US. 

An overseas member of the group is said to have alerted the FBI to the teenager’s plans. However, by the time the warning reached South African authorities, the attempted bombing had already occurred. 

Following the alleged attempted bombing, the teenager was admitted to Town Hill Hospital, a specialised psychiatric facility in Pietermaritzburg. He was reportedly seen back at Ballito Junction on July 1 and arrested on July 3, but was released after appearing at the KwaDukuza Regional Court, where the matter was not enrolled. 

Striking Columbine similarity 

A photograph obtained by the North Coast Courier appears to show the teenager arrested after today’s attack dressed in an outfit strikingly similar to that worn by one of the Columbine attackers: Black cargo pants and a black T-shirt bearing the word ‘wrath’ in red lettering. 

The stabbing suspect previously attended the Umhlali school but is no longer enrolled there. 

According to information obtained by the North Coast Courier, the teen is believed to have entered the school at about 08:15 through the rear of the property, before making his way into a classroom and locking the door behind him. 

A bystander who became aware of the emergency allegedly kicked open the classroom door. The teenager is believed to have stabbed the child before attempting to flee. 

The girl suffered critical injuries, including stab wounds to her chest, abdomen and arm. She remained in a critical but stable condition at the time of publication. 

Weapons and other items found 

Items found at the scene reportedly included a large kitchen knife, cable ties, an improvised firearm fitted with a knife resembling a bayonet, a tactical belt and an army-style duffel bag containing camouflage clothing. 

Police also reportedly discovered several containers of unidentified chemicals. 

The police bomb disposal unit and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) arrived soon after the arrest. 

The Hawks had previously investigated the teenager’s alleged involvement in the attempted bombing.

Experts consulted by the North Coast Courier in July said the explosive device appeared to have failed because of an assembly error. 

The headmaster of the school declined to comment, saying school staff were still being debriefed and receiving trauma counselling. 

* The name of the school is being withheld to protect the identity of the child victim and suspect. 

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