ON
← Back to feed
'Attention seeking' man jailed for arriving at school with hammer and kitchen knife
United Kingdom🏛️ PoliticsCenter13 hr. ago

'Attention seeking' man jailed for arriving at school with hammer and kitchen knife

A 21-year-old South Sudanese national named Both Douk Deng was sentenced to two years in prison after he arrived at a closed school in Heywood, Greater Manchester, armed with a hammer, hatchet, and kitchen knife. He was arrested on August 6 of last year after workers at the school noticed him acting suspiciously and called the police. CCTV footage showed Deng damaging property and waving at the workers before being subdued by officers. The prosecution claimed Deng, an asylum seeker who had previously been denied asylum three times, was trying to draw attention to his situation regarding his immigration status. His defense argued that his actions were not intended to harm anyone but were a result of personal distress and a need for attention.

How each side covered it

The same event, grouped by the political lean of the outlets covering it.

How each side covered it

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and your personalized For You feed.

Become a Supporter

Covered around the world

The same event as reported in other countries.

Covered around the world

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and your personalized For You feed.

Become a Supporter

Claims check

Key factual claims, and how many sources assert vs dispute each.

Claims check

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and your personalized For You feed.

Become a Supporter

2 reports

The Independent logoThe IndependentIndependentCenter13 hr. ago
Failed asylum seeker jailed after taking hammer and hatchet to school for ‘attention’

Both Douk Deng, a South Sudanese national and failed asylum seeker, was sentenced to two years in prison for brandishing a hammer, hatchet, and kitchen knife at a school in Greater Manchester. Deng, who had been denied asylum three times, claimed his actions were intended to gain attention for his case rather than to harm anyone. He was apprehended after workers at Edgar Wood Academy noticed him acting erratically with a petrol can and weapons. Deng admitted to damaging property at another school the day prior and expressed frustration over lack of support despite being housed in multiple accommodations. His defense argued his behavior stemmed from emotional distress and a sense of isolation rather than malice.

Bias read (Center): While the incident involves immigration policy and asylum procedures, the article presents balanced legal and personal context without overt ideological slant. The framing focuses on Deng’s psychological state and legal consequences rather than partisan critique of immigration systems. The narrative

Daily Mirror logoDaily MirrorIndependentCenteryesterday
'Attention seeking' man jailed for arriving at school with hammer and kitchen knife

A 21-year-old South Sudanese national named Both Douk Deng was sentenced to two years in prison after he arrived at a closed school in Heywood, Greater Manchester, armed with a hammer, hatchet, and kitchen knife. He was arrested on August 6 of last year after workers at the school noticed him acting suspiciously and called the police. CCTV footage showed Deng damaging property and waving at the workers before being subdued by officers. The prosecution claimed Deng, an asylum seeker who had previously been denied asylum three times, was trying to draw attention to his situation regarding his immigration status. His defense argued that his actions were not intended to harm anyone but were a result of personal distress and a need for attention.

Bias read (Center): The article presents both the prosecution's claim that Deng sought attention due to frustration with immigration processes and the defense's argument that his actions were not harmful but driven by personal distress. It provides details from both sides without overtly favoring one perspective, thus,

Keep the news honest.

ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €5/month.

Become a Supporter

Related stories