Wales school stabbing – latest: Girl, 13, charged with three counts of attempted murder
Police and ambulance called out to Amman Valley School in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire
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A 13-year-old girl has been charged with three counts of attempted murder, after two teachers and a pupil were stabbed at a secondary school in Wales.
The three people injured in the attack at Amman Valley School in Carmarthenshire on Wednesday morning have now left hospital, where they were treated for knife wounds.
Two air ambulances were sent to the school, also known as Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, as emergency services swarmed the scene.
Parents waited for several hours at the gates of the school, which was “in lockdown”, before tearfully being reunited with their children as the school day ended.
The teachers injured are reported to be Fiona Elias, the deputy head, and Liz Hopkin, a special-needs teacher. In a statement on the school website, headteacher James Durbridge praised staff and pupils for their “calm and mature response” to the lockdown.
Plaid Cymru’s Adam Price – a former pupil at the school – described it as a “centre point for the whole community” and said pupils and families have been “shocked and shaken”.
‘Questions to answer'
Adam Price, the Plaid Cymru MS for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, said there would be questions to answer in coming days to ensure Amman Valley School staff and pupils felt safe.
“I think what more can we do to ensure the safety of everyone in the school community, what are the lessons from this particular incident, what could we do that we aren’t currently doing that could actually minimise - as far as is ever humanly possible - the chances of this ever happening again in Ammanford, or any other community in Wales,” he told the PA news agency.
“Those are the kind of questions I think we should be asking at the proper time, so that we can learn any lessons and prevent this kind of very traumatic incident ever happening again as much as possible.”
Mr Price, who attended the school - also known as Ysgol Dyffryn Aman - between 1980 and 1987, described the incident as a “bolt from the blue”.
He said: “It is my hometown, my school, and it is an excellent school in a really close-knit community. So, a knife attack like this is not something you associate with our community.”
This was grave shock, says council leader
Darren Price, leader of Carmarthenshire county council, said his thoughts were with the three people injured and their families.
“Our priority now is to do all that we can over the coming days and weeks to support the pupils and staff in the aftermath,” he said.
“Today’s events have come as a grave shock to the school community to Ammanford, Carmarthenshire and further afield.”
Police chief says events were distressing
Police Superintendent Ross Evans, Carmarthenshire Commander, said: “This was a very distressing incident, and our thoughts are with the victims, their families and everyone here at the school and in the community that’s been impacted by what has happened.
“We have set up a dedicated portal and asked that anyone with information that could help our investigation report it through this link to help police manage the volume of information currently coming into us.
“Lastly, I would like to thank the whole community for their support and patience while police emergency services, Carmarthenshire County Council and the school work through this distressing incident today and over the coming days.”
School to be closed tomorrow
The school will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, but lessons will continue online, a local councillor says.
Cllr Darren Price also appealed for pictures and video on social media to be removed.
Knife found to be used in evidence, police say
A knife has been recovered to be used as evidence, police say.
Superintendent Ross Evans, Carmarthenshire Commander, said the teachers and pupils being treated had not suffered life-threatening injuries.
Teenage girl arrested on suspicion of attempted murder: full report
Three injured at Welsh school after reports of stabbing
One person has been arrested at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Carmarthenshire
More officers will be out in force, says police chief
People living near the school will see more police in the area over the coming days as the investigation continues, a police chief says.
Superintendent Ross Evans, Carmarthenshire Commander, said: “Just after 11.20am this morning we received a call advising us of an incident at Amman Valley School in Carmarthenshire.
“Emergency services immediately attended and the school was locked down for the safety of all on the premises.
“Three people - two teachers and a teenage pupil - have been taken to hospital with stab wounds. The family members of all those injured have been informed.
“A teenage girl has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and currently remains in police custody.”
He said he would like to reassure parents and the public that the incident was over, and pupils had left the school.
“We are working with the school and other agencies to ensure appropriate support is available to all involved,” he added.
“This was a very distressing incident and our thoughts are with the victims, their family and everyone impacted by what has happened.
“I am aware that there is footage of the incident currently circulating on social media and would ask that this is removed to avoid contempt of court and distress to those affected.
“I would also ask that people do not speculate while there is a police investigation ongoing.”
He said police were working with the school, Carmarthenshire County Council, and other agencies to ensure appropriate support was available to all involved.
“Local people will see more police in the area over the coming days as the investigation continues,” Mr Evans added.
Teenage girl arrested on suspicion of attempted murder
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.
Forensics experts at work in school
There’s an eerie feel outside Amman Valley School after a teacher and pupils were injured in a reportedly knife attack earlier today, writes Alex Ross.
The incident happened while children were outside at lunch, and they were quickly rushed inside and placed under lockdown as emergency services arrived.
At 3.10pm, waiting parents outside were reunited with their children, and by 4pm all parents and pupils were gone from the black gated entrance to the school.
Now, a group of journalists remain while police officers, including forensic experts, work inside an area cordoned off by police tape at the school.
Police set to release more information
Police say they will give an update outside the school at 5.30pm.
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