UPDATE: Umhlali stabbing suspect previously named school in bomb attempt manifesto

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 Creative Classroom school in Umhlali on Tuesday.

“You’ll pay for what you did to me, [names removed], anyone from Creative Classroom 2024,” read part of a manifesto the teenager allegedly published shortly before the attempted bombing on March 31.

In the document, he outlined his motive, ideology and plans for the attack. He 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.

The teenager also said he admired the perpetrators of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in the United States.

A photograph obtained by the Courier appears to show the teenager 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 teen previously attended Creative Classroom but is no longer enrolled there.

According to information obtained by the Courier, the teen is believed to have entered the school at about 8.15am through the rear side of the property before making his way into a classroom and locking the door behind him.

A bystander alerted to the emergency allegedly kicked open the classroom door. The teenager is then believed to have stabbed the child before attempting to flee. He was apprehended and detained on the school grounds.

Items found at the scene 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.

Several containers of unidentified chemicals were also reportedly discovered.

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 at Ballito Junction on March 31.

At the time, the teen was believed to have published a 10-page manifesto in a Telegram group, detailing his motives, ideology and intended attack.

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

Experts consulted by the Courier at the time said the explosive device appeared to have failed because of an assembly error.

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.

Creative Classroom headmaster Dean Grobler declined to comment, saying school staff were still being debriefed and receiving trauma counselling.

Editor’s note: The Courier has withheld the identity of the suspect because he is a minor. South African law provides special protections for children accused of crimes, including restrictions on publishing information that could identify them. These protections apply regardless of the seriousness of the allegations.