Wales school stabbing news: Teenage girl arrested after teachers and pupils attacked

A teenage girl has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, police say.

Dyfed-Powys Police said a girl had been arrested after two teachers and a teenage student were stabbed at Amman Valley School in Carmarthenshire.

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.

The teachers were stabbed while trying to help when a pupil was attacked, Jonathan Edwards, Independent MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, told Channel 5 News.

He said two teachers were taken to hospital, one of whom has since been released with injuries to the arm and hand, while the other has been transferred to Cardiff as the “situation is far more serious”.

One teacher, Darrel Campbell, is said to have intervened and disarmed a girl before emergency services arrived, according to reports.

He is said to have not been harmed during the incident.

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.”

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.”

Pupil Osian George, 15, was outside with friends when panic broke out.

People were running around and screaming, he said. It was very scary, he added.

“Teachers came running out and told us to lessons and go into class quickly,” he said.

“It was mayhem. Everyone was running around crazy.

“I saw one girl hurt – she was being looked after, and then I went to lesson.

“We got in lesson with no idea what was going on. We waited until we could get out and see our parents again. I felt lucky to get out safely.”

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.”

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said he was deeply troubled to hear of the school stabbings.

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.”