Girl arrested after three stabbed at Manchester school

5 days ago

Georgie Docker, North West and

Samuel Rhodes, in Blackley

BBC

The girl was arrested after three people were hurt at the school on Plant Hill Road, Manchester

A teacher and two pupils have been taken to hospital after they were injured in a knife attack at a school in Manchester.

A 14-year-old schoolgirl has been arrested on suspicion of section 18 assault after police were called to reports of multiple stabbings at the Co-op Academy on Plant Hill Road in Blackley at about 08:30 BST.

A boy and girl, both 14, and a 27-year-old male teacher have been taken to hospital and are in a stable condition, with their injuries not believed to be serious, Greater Manchester Police said.

The school, which has closed, said the site was immediately placed on lockdown and staff "acted bravely to quickly detain the student" before police arrived.

The 14-year-old girl has injuries to the shoulder, the 14-year-old schoolboy has an injury to the ear, while the teacher was stabbed in the neck, police have said.

A spokeswoman for the school said staff had "no reason to conduct a search on any student this morning".

"While our policies outline strict screening and search powers in line with Department for Education guidance, weapons can unfortunately be small and easily concealed without prior indicators," she added.

Emergency services have remained at the scene, but the academy confirmed it will reopen as normal on Wednesday.

Parent Peter Woods rushed to the school after he was told of the incident

Ch Insp Jon Shilvock said "We understand that this incident will have caused concern to pupils, staff and the wider school community.

"The incident was swiftly and quickly dealt with by staff before officers attended to arrest the girl."

He said there is believed to be no wider threat to the public.

'Terrifying'

Peter Woods, the father of a year nine pupil, came to the school after getting a call about the incident.

He told BBC Radio Manchester : "You hear things on the news but it's always in other schools. You never think it will be in the school where your kid goes.

"For it to happen on your doorstep, it's terrifying."

Woods said he is concerned about sending his child back to class and wants to know what measures the school will have in place to prevent an incident like this from happening again.

Aureo Dombaxe said when he arrived at the school earlier to drop off his son he saw a "flood of police".

"We didn't initially know what had happened," he said. "When other parents informed me, it was heartbreaking."

He added: "You're always worried because you hear about knives at other schools - it is a worry when your kids go to the school."

Aureo Dombaxe, who has two children at the school, said he feels 'quite worried' after the incident

Abel Lemos, who has a daughter in year seven, said as a parent "you get really afraid when you hear something serious has happened at the school".

He said: "We need to think more seriously about how to avoid this happening in the future.

"I worry about knives in school, it has become common on the news in the last few years."

Terry Christopher Coutet has two daughters who go to the school

Terry Christopher Coutet is father to two girls at the school and said he is "very afraid" following the incident.

"It is the first time it has happened in this school but it is very dangerous," he said.

"When you receive a call at work telling you to come and take your kids because there is trouble in the school, it is very, very scary."

Ch Insp Shilvock added: "Officers will remain at the school and within the area to provide a visible presence and community reassurance."

Crowds that had gathered outside the gates have now cleared, with three police cars parked up on Plant Hill Road.

The school said the pupils and member of staff were taken to hospital "as a precautionary measure where they are in a stable condition with injuries not believed to be serious".

It added: "We are incredibly proud of the swift actions of our staff and the mature response of our pupils."

They said the school there will be "full emotional support" in place for pupils when the site reopens while police officers will "maintain a reassuring presence" in the area.

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