A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the stabbing of a teacher at a school in Gloucestershire this morning (Monday).
Police were called to Tewkesbury Academy shortly after 9am after the ambulance service reported that they were treating a male teacher for a stab wound in a corridor.
Armed officers were deployed to the site to carry out a search for the perpetrator – who was believed to be hiding within the school buildings – and any further injured persons.
“This search was both complex and meticulous in nature as we sought to ensure there were no further injured parties as well as seeking the arrest of the suspect”, Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone said.
Adding: “The Academy was locked down and two neighbouring schools were asked to close their doors as a precaution.
“Specialist resources including the National Police Air Service and plain-clothed officers were deployed to search the wider area and thanks to their efforts the suspect was safely arrested by firearms officers in Stoke Orchard at 11am.”
A knife was seized during the arrest of the suspect – a teenage boy from Tewkesbury – for attempted murder. He remains in police custody.
ACC Ocone continued: “This was clearly a very distressing incident and our thoughts are with the victim, their family and everyone impacted by what happened.
“We are working with the school and other agencies to ensure appropriate support is available and local people will see more police in the area over the coming days as the investigation continues.”
Students were allowed to leave the school, only with permission from a parent, from around midday. Some children could be seen exiting the building and hugging awaiting family.
Another, seen to be in tears, walked home with her mother following the traumatic incident.
Reacting to the incident, Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman said: “It is a live investigation, but the Prime Minister’s thoughts are with the individual who has been injured and with the staff and pupils of the school who would obviously be extremely concerned.
“He wants to thank the police and emergency services for their ongoing response.”
A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: “We were called at 09:08hrs to an incident in Tewkesbury on Monday 10 July.
“We sent three double-crewed land ambulances and two operations officers. We conveyed one patient by land to Gloucester Royal Hospital.”
