Witnesses claim attacker ‘shouted “Allahu Akbar” during stabbing rampage at London school’ that left boys, 12 and 13, seriously injured: Teen suspect in custody amid counter terror police probe
A 13-year-old boy carried out a stabbing attack at a school on Tuesday, leaving two children fighting for their lives in a suspected terrorist attack.
Eyewitnesses said that just before lunch, a teenager in the middle of the classroom shouted “Allahu Akbar”, pulled out a knife and stabbed a 13-year-old boy in the neck and back.
Seconds later, a second 12-year-old boy was stabbed in front of screaming children at Kingsbury High School in Brent, north-west London.
Armed police rushed to the school, but the knife-wielding man had escaped. An unnamed suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after he was found hiding nearby about an hour later.
Sources said he was not a Kingsbury High School student, raising questions about how he managed to enter the school building with a concealed weapon.
On Tuesday, two injured children were in hospital with life-threatening injuries. Scotland Yard said counter-terrorism police were investigating the incident on suspicion of an ideologically motivated attack.
While police continue to search for the suspect on Tuesday night, they have not yet officially declared that the stabbings were a terrorist attack.
Most of the teenagers who witnessed the stabbing were held in the school hall for several hours while police conducted the investigation.
A 13-year-old boy is accused of launching a stabbing attack at a north-west London school on Tuesday, leaving two children fighting for their lives in a suspected terror attack
Eyewitnesses said that just before lunch, a teenager in the middle of the classroom, shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’, took out a knife and stabbed a 13-year-old boy in the neck and back.
Police said the attack took place at Kingsbury High School on Bacon Lane in Brent at around 12.40pm.
The father of a student said: ‘He [the attacker] He came to school and my son saw him stab a kid in the neck.
‘Two boys were on the ground and the other boys thought they were just playing. But then they didn’t get up. ‘This is too bad.’
One woman said her sister was in the classroom next door when the attack began.
He said: ‘They heard screaming and crying. Our families were traveling and saw this on the news and were very worried.
‘My brother was really afraid of going back to school. How can you do that after a stabbing?’
Another pupil’s father added: ‘My child is traumatised.’ Maeve O’Callaghan-Harrington, who lives in the area, said she heard children sobbing as they left school with their families.
He said: ‘I went outside and heard a child saying, ‘Mummy, mum, it was on your neck.’
Detective Superintendent Luke Williams said police were ‘keeping an open mind about the motivation behind the attack’.
The suspect, who we believe was 13 years old, left the scene after the stabbing. Following immediate investigation, our officers arrested him and also recovered a weapon we believe was used in the stabbing.
‘The suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and is being held in custody for questioning by our police officers.’
Scotland Yard said counter-terrorism police were investigating into suspicions of an ideologically motivated attack (Image: Met Police press conference on Tuesday evening)
While police continue to search for the suspect on Tuesday night, they have not yet officially declared that the stabbings were a terrorist attack.
Kingsbury headteacher Alex Thomas said: ‘This was a deeply traumatic event for the whole school community.
‘We are working closely with the authorities.’
Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood said her thoughts and prayers were with the two victims and their families, adding: ‘Police have arrested the suspect and I would like to thank them for their swift work in this matter. ‘We must now give them the space to continue their investigations.’
Education Minister Bridget Phillipson added: ‘I was heartbroken to hear about the stabbings at a school in Brent.’
Brent Council leader Mohammed Butt said it was ‘appalling’ to think of a teenager carrying out a knife attack at school, adding: ‘No parent need have to worry about their child’s safety at school.’
Kingsbury High School is an academy with 1,997 students aged 11 to 18. It was formerly known as Kingsbury County School and its alumni include George Michael, jazz musician Courtney Pine and Floyd Steadman, the first black captain of the Saracens rugby team.
London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan called on anyone with information about the attack to come forward, adding: ‘My thoughts are with the family, friends and the wider community in Brent following the horrific stabbings.
‘This horrific violence has absolutely no place in our city.
‘A suspect has been arrested and I am in close contact with the Met who are investigating this horrific incident. ‘The investigation is still in its early stages and it is true that the police are investigating every element possible.’
