A teacher was stabbed in the neck as he ‘protected pupils’ from a 14-year-old girl who attacked students at a school in Manchester.
The Co–op Academy in Blackley was placed in lockdown and a girl was arrested following the ‘serious incident’ this morning.
A 14-year-old girl suffered injuries to the shoulder while a 14-year-old boy has injuries to his ear. A 27–year–old male member of staff has injuries to the neck.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed the pupil is being questioned on suspicion of wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Witnesses identified the adult victim as a science teacher who was stabbed as he tried to wrestle a knife from a student while she attacked fellow pupils.
Five teachers were said to have held the classroom door shut with the armed schoolgirl trapped 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 anyone further 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)
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‘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, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Heavy traffic has been reported outside the building with students waiting to be collected.
Parents voiced their concern following the attack.
One 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 said she only received confirmation of the incident after arriving on site to collect her daughter.
One father, Malik Rehman, told the Manchester Evening News his son had witnessed the stabbing – saying it was a ‘frightening’ morning for his family.
‘I was at work and my wife got a text from the school’, he said, adding his son, a year nine people, was ‘luckily’ OK.
Another parent, whose son is a 14-year-old pupil at the school, described the incident as ‘very scary’.
She told the Sun: ‘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.’
One girl screamed ‘I’ve been stabbed’ as she fled from the attacker, according to the newspaper.
Co–op Academy Manchester has been contacted for further comment.
Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has also been approached.
