London: A 13-year-old boy allegedly launched a knife attack inside Kingsbury High School in Brent, north-west London, on Tuesday, leaving two pupils in life-threatening condition and triggering a major police response.
According to witnesses, the attacker pulled out a knife in a classroom shortly before lunch and stabbed a 13-year-old boy in the neck and back while shouting religious slogans. Moments later, a second boy, aged 12, was also stabbed in front of classmates.
Armed police units rushed to the school following emergency calls, but the suspect had fled the scene. Around an hour later, officers located and arrested a 13-year-old boy hiding nearby. He has been detained on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody for questioning.
Police confirmed that a weapon believed to have been used in the attack was recovered during the arrest.
Counter-terror police lead probe
The Metropolitan Police said counter-terrorism officers from Scotland Yard are leading the investigation amid suspicions that the attack may have been ideologically motivated. However, authorities have not formally declared the incident a terrorist attack, stating that investigations and searches linked to the suspect were ongoing.
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said police were “keeping an open mind as to any motivation behind the attack.”
“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. He remains in custody,” Williams said.
Reports indicated that the suspect was not a pupil at Kingsbury High School, raising concerns about how he managed to enter the premises carrying a concealed weapon.
Scenes of panic and trauma
Many students who witnessed the attack were kept inside the school hall for several hours while officers carried out investigations.
Parents described scenes of chaos and distress. One father said his son saw the attacker stab a child in the neck.
“Two boys were on the floor and the other children thought they were just playing. But then they didn’t get up. It’s awful,” he said.
Another woman said her sister was in a nearby classroom when the incident unfolded. “They heard screaming and crying. Our parents saw it on the news and were so worried. My brother was really scared to go back to school. How can you after a stabbing?” she said.
A local resident, Maeve O’Callaghan-Harrington, described hearing children sobbing as they left the school grounds with their parents. “I heard one boy saying, ‘Mummy, Mummy, it was in his neck’,” she said.
Several parents said their children were traumatised by what they had witnessed.
Official reactions
Kingsbury High School headteacher Alex Thomas described the stabbing as a “deeply traumatic event” for the school community.
“We are working closely with the authorities,” Thomas said in a statement.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed solidarity with the victims and their families. “My thoughts and prayers are with the two victims and their families. I would like to thank the police for their rapid work. We must now give them the space to pursue their investigation,” she said.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said she was “heartbroken” to learn about the attack.
The investigation remains ongoing as police continue inquiries into the suspect’s background and possible motive.
