Boy, 13, charged with attempted murder of two children after school stabbing
A 13-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder after two schoolchildren were stabbed at a school in north London.
Two boys, aged 12 and 13, were rushed to hospital in a serious condition following the attack at Kingsbury High School in Brent on Tuesday.
The teenage defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Youth Court today.
The defendant, a former pupil at the school, fled the scene of the attack before being arrested at a nearby mosque.
Worshippers had spotted the ‘distressed’ suspect and called the police, Detective Chief Superintendent Helen Flanagan said.
She added: ‘We don’t believe he had a connection with the mosque. We think it is coincidental. Everyone in the mosque is supportive of the operation.
‘We were clearly concerned the attack would have some terrorist motive. But we keep an open mind on the motive.’
Police said the suspect began the attack by spraying a substance in the a first-floor classroom.
The suspect then stabbed one pupil, before stabbing another as he escaped down a corridor.
Police have said their injuries are believed to be non life-threatening and that they are in a stable condition in hospital.
Chief Superintendent Helen Flanagan said: ‘Having entered the school, he proceeded out to a first floor classroom.
Latest London news
‘He entered the classroom, and we believe he sprayed a substance towards a pupil as he entered the door.
‘The suspect has then attacked another pupil, a 13-year-old in that classroom, stabbing him, and then the suspect has left, running down the hallway of the school.
‘As he is leaving, he then attacked another victim, a 12-year-old, stabbing him before running off and away from the school.’
The boy has been charged with possession of a knife on school premises, administering a noxious thing – namely insect spray, as well as attempted murder.
Police say their investigation is ongoing. While the case was passed to Counter Terrorism Policing London, it has not been declared as a terrorist incident.
One mum said that the second boy was reportedly stabbed after he intervened to save his friend.
She told Metro: ‘My daughter was in the next classroom. She told me she heard shouting outside. There was an alarm everybody was scared and then there was chaos.
‘A boy who had been expelled for fighting before had come back to the school to get revenge on another boy. Everyone knew the boy.
‘When my daughter was allowed to leave the classroom she saw blood smeared on a window on a window which was very distressing for her and her friends.’
Parents have called for tighter security, including metal detectors and more staff.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.