Wales school stabbing – latest: Girl, 13, charged with three counts of attempted murder
Police and ambulance called out to Amman Valley School in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire
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A 13-year-old girl has been charged with three counts of attempted murder, after two teachers and a pupil were stabbed at a secondary school in Wales.
The three people injured in the attack at Amman Valley School in Carmarthenshire on Wednesday morning have now left hospital, where they were treated for knife wounds.
Two air ambulances were sent to the school, also known as Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, as emergency services swarmed the scene.
Parents waited for several hours at the gates of the school, which was “in lockdown”, before tearfully being reunited with their children as the school day ended.
The teachers injured are reported to be Fiona Elias, the deputy head, and Liz Hopkin, a special-needs teacher. In a statement on the school website, headteacher James Durbridge praised staff and pupils for their “calm and mature response” to the lockdown.
Plaid Cymru’s Adam Price – a former pupil at the school – described it as a “centre point for the whole community” and said pupils and families have been “shocked and shaken”.
Amman Valley School not open today as police continue investigation
Amman Valley School will not open on Thursday to allow police to continue their investigation.
It is maintained by Carmarthenshire County Council and provides education to 1,450 school pupils, in addition to 270 sixth form pupils.
Headteacher praises ‘calm and mature response’ of pupils and staff
In a statement on the school website, headteacher James Durbridge praised staff and pupils for their “calm and mature response” to the lockdown.
“Today has been a very difficult day for us as all as in the school. It goes without saying that my thoughts are with the three individuals and their families, who have been affected by today’s incident.
“In the immediate aftermath of the incident, our priority was to ensure the security of pupils and staff whilst managing the situation and communicating with those directly impacted. Working with the police we issued communication as soon as feasibly possible.
“To support Dyfed Powys Police, the school will be closed tomorrow to all pupils and staff in order for officers to further carry out their investigations.
“Although the school will be closed, I want to reassure pupils, parents and staff that wellbeing support is available to anyone who has been affected.”
He added: “On a final note, I wish to commend all staff and pupils for their calm and mature response during today’s lockdown. We are proud to have witnessed pupils embodying the school’s core values while supporting their peers and staff.”
Local councillor expresses disbelief at triple stabbing in Carmarthenshire
Councillor Ann Davies, who represents the Llanddarog area in Ammanford, has been speaking to BBC Radio Wales outside the school this morning.
She said: “This is so unexpected within Carmarthenshire, and within the whole of Wales. As a local authority we have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds creating fencing around each one of our schools in order to keep our pupils safe. Not thinking, perhaps, that the problem would be from within inside that fencing.
“We would assume that any dangers come from the outside but, of course, this tragic incident happened inside the school itself. This is just one incident. We never thought this would happen in Carmarthenshire.”
Police will work tirelessly to understand this, says crime tsar
The police and crime commissioner for Dyfed-Powys said he was deeply shocked by the stabbing.
Dafydd Llywelyn said: “My thoughts go out to all those affected, including the pupils, teachers and staff who were involved or witnessed this terrifying ordeal. Our thoughts are also with the families and friends of those injured.
“I want to commend those at the scene that ensured that the situation was brought under control and the emergency services who attended to safeguard the scene and reassure the public.”
He added: “I want to assure the public that the police investigation is ongoing, and that officers and staff will work tirelessly to understand the circumstances surrounding this incident.”
Ed Davey ‘troubled’ by stabbings
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said he was deeply troubled to hear of the school stabbings.
In full: Girl arrested on suspicion of attempted murder
Full report:
Girl arrested over ‘attempted murder’ as three stabbed at Welsh school
Teenage girl arrested and three hospitalised as Ysgol Dyffryn Aman school put in lockdown
‘Everyone knows someone at the school'
A councillor in the town where two teachers and a pupil were stabbed said the day had been difficult for everyone because “everyone knows someone in the school”.
Calum Higgins, who represents Ammanford Town Council’s Pantyffynon ward, said: “It’s quite a quiet town generally, it’s a small town. Everyone knows each other really well. We don’t really expect something like this to happen.
“Everyone knows someone in the school - everyone suddenly got concerned and started to worry. It was quite a worrying day, it’s been difficult for everyone.”
Headteacher says he is proud of pupils
The head of the Welsh school where two teachers and a pupil were stabbed has said he is proud of pupils’ responses to the attack.
In a statement posted on the Amman Valley School website, headteacher James Durbridge said: “Today has been a very difficult day for us as all as in the school [sic]. It goes without saying that my thoughts are with the three individuals and their families, who have been affected by today’s incident.
“In the immediate aftermath of the incident, our priority was to ensure the security of pupils and staff whilst managing the situation and communicating with those directly impacted. Working with the police, we issued communication as soon as feasibly possible.”
He added: “I wish to commend all staff and pupils for their calm and mature response during today’s lockdown.
“We are proud to have witnessed pupils embodying the school’s core values while supporting their peers and staff.”
Schools are safe and violent crime has dropped, says home secretary
Home Secretary James Cleverly described the stabbing of two teachers and a pupil at Amman Valley School as horrifying, saying schools in the UK are very safe and violent crime had reduced significantly.
Mr Cleverly said: “I’ve been receiving updates about this terrible situation whilst I’ve been here in Italy.
“Obviously my thoughts are with the individuals who have been hurt and their friends and family, and what must have been an incredibly difficult and scary situation for the young people involved.”
Praising the police and medical services for “acting so promptly” following the incident, he added: “We should remember that the school system in the UK, indeed life in the UK, is very safe - violent crime has been reduced significantly.
“Because of the increase in police numbers that we’ve seen in the UK, violent crime has reduced dramatically.
“Obviously when we see incidents like this, it is horrifying, of course it is, and we will look at the details of what happened.
“But, of course, we should remember that the UK is a safe country, I’m very proud of that, and we will do everything we can to ensure that remains the case.”
In pictures: Forensics experts look for evidence
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