A teacher sustained a neck injury while protecting students from a 14-year-old girl accused of attacking classmates at a Manchester school.
The Co-op Academy in Blackley went into lockdown after the ‘serious incident’ unfolded in a classroom earlier today, and the girl was subsequently arrested.
In the altercation, a 14-year-old girl was injured in the shoulder, and a 14-year-old boy suffered an ear injury. Additionally, a 27-year-old male teacher received a neck wound.
The Greater Manchester Police have reported that the student is being interrogated on charges of wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Eyewitnesses have identified the injured adult as Mr. Abdullah, a science teacher who was stabbed while attempting to disarm the student.
It was reported that five teachers worked together to block the classroom door, keeping the armed girl inside.
‘She tried to get outside the classroom to attack other kids but other teachers held the door closed on her,’ a witness said.
One girl reportedly screamed ‘I’ve been stabbed’ as she fled from the attacker.
Large crowds of pupils and parents gathered at the scene after three people were injured in a stabbing
Police and ambulance vehicles were pictured outside the gates and on the school grounds
Greater Manchester Police insist there is ‘no wider threat to pupils and staff in the school’
Chief Inspector Jon Shilvock said he understood the incident would cause ‘concern to pupils, staff and the wider school community’.
He added the attack was ‘swiftly and quickly dealt with by staff’ before officers attended.
‘There is believed to be no wider threat at this time, and we thank everyone for their support as emergency services dealt with this,’ he said.
Police say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack and officers will remain at the school to provide ‘community reassurance’.
Emergency service vehicles were pictured outside the gates and on the school grounds.
A helicopter was also seen above the building as large crowds of pupils and parents gathered at the scene.
In a message to parents and carers, the school’s headteacher, Phill Quirk, confirmed the academy would be shut for the rest of the day.
He said: ‘You will be aware that there has been an incident at Co-op Academy Manchester this morning.
Co-op Academy Manchester is a non-selective, mixed secondary school on Plant Hill Road in the suburban area of Blackley (file image)
‘We can confirm that everyone is safe and the incident has been contained.
‘However we have made the decision to close the school for the remainder of the day. We are speaking with parents and carers to obtain permission for children to leave.
‘If we haven’t yet spoken with you, please contact your child through their mobile phone or send an Arbor message.
‘Once a member of staff has seen and verified this permission, students will be allowed to leave the site.’
Co-op Academy Manchester is a non-selective, mixed secondary school on Plant Hill Road in the suburban area of Blackley.
Around 1,650 pupils attend the academy and it was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection.
The school ‘chose’ to go into lockdown as the stabbing incident unfolded this morning, it is understood.
Heavy traffic has been reported outside the building with students waiting to be collected.
Parents and pupils voiced their concern following the attack.
One girl, who was standing next to her mother outside the building, told the Daily Mail: ‘It was terrifying. The teacher tried to get the knife off her but ended up being stabbed in the neck.
‘She tried to get outside the classroom to attack other kids but other teachers held the door closed on her.
‘She eventually dropped the knife and was arrested. I saw her being brought out in handcuffs.’
A father-of-two, who spoke as he picked up his Year 9 son from school, said: ‘My son said the teacher was stabbed as he tried to get the knife off the girl.
‘He was trying to grab her to get her away from the other children. But he was stabbed. Another girl was stabbed in the arm.
‘All the children were very scared. He said the girl had gone crazy.’
A mother, whose son was already on his way home when she received the news, said on social media: ‘This is all so scary. Parents found nothing out from school, it was all from Facebook. My child should be enjoying the last few days in school and not worrying and being in lockdown.’
Another parent said she only received confirmation of the incident after arriving on site to collect her daughter.
Malik Attiqe, 41, whose 14-year-old son is a pupil, said: ‘It’s very scary. My son said the science teacher was stabbed in the neck at the school. She also attacked other pupils.
‘The government needs to do more to stop knife crime.
‘It’s terrifying this could happen in a school and this girl brought a knife into a classroom.’
Consuela Lugia, 35, whose son is a pupil at the school, added: ‘It’s terrifying.
‘I was really worried for my son when I heard about the stabbing.’
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has issued a statement in the aftermath of the attack.
He said: ‘I will be in touch with GMP throughout the day. As I understand it, it’s not an intruder coming into the school, it would appear to be an issue within the school.
‘It seems like a very serious issue, alarming for all, especially pupils parents. It seems right now that the right actions have been taken and we’ll work with the school to get to the bottom of things.
‘I continue to perform my mayoral duties. I separate them from the election campaign. I am still receiving reports of incidents I need to deal with.’
Co-op Academy Manchester said the incident had occurred ‘shortly after the start of the school day’.
In a statement, the Co-op Academies Trust told the Daily Mail: ‘The school was immediately placed into lockdown, and staff acted bravely to quickly detain a student before emergency services arrived.
‘Greater Manchester Police arrested the student, who remains in custody. Police have confirmed this was an isolated incident with no wider threat to the public.
‘Three people, two pupils and a member of staff sustained injuries. They were taken to hospital as a precautionary measure, where they are in a stable condition with injuries not believed to be serious.’
The trust said it is ‘incredibly proud’ of the ‘swift actions’ of staff and ‘mature response’ of pupils.
Co-op Academy Manchester will reopen as normal tomorrow with ‘full emotional support’ in place for pupils and local officers maintaining a ‘reassuring presence’ in the area.
The trust added its policies outline ‘strict screening and search powers in line with Department for Education guidance’.
But it concluded: ‘Weapons can unfortunately be small and easily concealed without prior indicators.
‘We had no reason to conduct a search on any student this morning.’
