Boy, 13, questioned over double school stabbing

Boy, 13, questioned over double school stabbing

Police are continuing to question a 13-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, as counter terrorism officers lead an investigation into the stabbing of two boys at a school in north-west London.

Officers were called to Kingsbury High School in Brent, at 12:40 GMT on Tuesday, to find a 13-year-old and and a 12-year-old had been attacked.

The two are believed to be in a serious condition, the Metropolitan Police said.

Det Ch Supt Luke Williams said due to “surrounding circumstances”, the investigation was being led by counter terrorism officers, although it has not been declared a terrorist incident.

Speaking at the school, Williams said: “The suspect, who we believe to be 13, left the scene following the stabbing.

“After urgent inquiries, our officers arrested him and also recovered a weapon which we believe to have been used in the stabbing.

“The suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody for questioning by our officers.”

He said police were “keeping an open mind as to any motivation behind the attack”.

“However, due to the surrounding circumstances, the investigation is now being led by officers from counter terrorism policing London, who are working closely with our local officers in response to this incident,” the officer added.

Police are understood to be examining the suspect’s devices and going through dozens of witness accounts.

According to witnesses quoted by the Daily Mail, the suspect is alleged to have shouted “Allahu Akbar”, meaning “God is greatest” in Arabic, during the attack.

And Simon Theodorou, a parent of a child at the school, told the Telegraph the attacker “managed to get his way in by climbing over a wall”.

He also claimed one of the victims “pulled the fire alarm to get help”, praising the boy as “a hero”.

The head teacher of the school, Alex Thomas, said the incident was “a deeply traumatic event for the whole school community”, in a letter to parents and carers.

“I fully appreciate that this will be very upsetting news to hear and, as you can imagine, this has been a deeply traumatic event for the whole school community,” he said.

“The situation is under control, but a live investigation is taking place. We are working closely with the authorities and I will provide further updates as soon as I am able to share confirmed information. Please keep the students and their families in your thoughts.”

He added the Lower School would be closed on Wednesday and students should stay at home, but the Upper School would be open for students in Years 10-13.

On Tuesday evening, police officers spoke to pupils in one of the school’s halls more than three hours after the usual school day finished. Some were seen leaving in tears.

The father of one pupil said children were obviously “traumatised by what happened in front of them”.

Reporting from the scene on Wednesday morning, BBC Radio London journalist Gem O’Reilly said pupils arriving at the school said they felt nervous and distressed following the attacks.

Other pupils have said they were scared to walk to school.

Local man Moeen, a former pupil, told the BBC: “I feel very sad for them and their family…the age of 13 is just for playing…they’re children”.

He said local people had been left feeling “unsafe”.

“I am very worried ..they have to do something,” he said.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said her thoughts and prayers were with the two children stabbed in the “shocking attack”.

She posted on X: “A shocking attack at Kingsbury High School, where two children have been stabbed.

“My thoughts and my prayers are with them, their families and all those affected.”

‘Deeply shocking’

Brent Council leader Muhammed Butt thanked the emergency services and school staff for their “swift response”, adding: “This is a deeply shocking and distressing incident, and our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been injured, their families and the whole school community.

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has urged anyone with information to contact the police, adding: “There is no honour in staying silent.”

However on Wednesday, the government confirmed it was not considering installing mandatory metal detectors in schools.

Asked about knife arches – knife arch is a walk‑through metal detector – Minister for School Standards, Georgia Gould, told BBC Breakfast it was not something the government was looking into at the moment.

“But we are taking action on knife violence and in a whole range of ways, in terms of training, in terms of investment, in terms of support for young people,” she added.

Kingsbury High School is an academy school serving children aged 11 to 18, with both upper and lower sites.

Alumni include singer George Michael, jazz musician Courtney Pine, Floyd Steadman – the first black captain of the Saracens rugby team – and writer Ekow Eshun.