Two pupils, aged 12 and 13, were stabbed on the premises of Kingsbury High School in north-west London on Tuesday afternoon in an incident which mobilized a large number of emergency crews and triggered an investigation by the counter-terrorism unit of the Metropolitan Police.
Authorities were initially alerted to the stabbing of a 13-year-old student. Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered that a second boy, aged 12, had also been injured.
A 13-year-old boy was arrested shortly after the incident on suspicion of attempted murder. According to the police, the weapon used in the attack has been recovered and the suspect is in custody for questioning.
The investigation, led by the anti-terrorism police
Unusually, the investigation is being led by officers from the counter-terrorism unit, working alongside local police. DCS Luke Williams, responsible for policing in north-west London, said however that the incident had not been declared an act of terrorism at this time.
“Upon investigation, our officers arrested the suspect and recovered the weapon we believe was used in the stabbing. The investigation will continue to determine the full circumstances,” Williams said.
He added that police are not currently looking for other suspects.
The victims are in stable condition
Initially, the two students were transported to the hospital in serious condition. The Metropolitan Police later confirmed that both were in a stable condition.
The London Ambulance Service said several crews were sent to the scene, including specialist paramedics and a team from the London Air Ambulance.
“Our thoughts are with the two boys and their families,” DCS Williams said, thanking the medical staff for their quick response.
Students interviewed, school partially closed
After the incident, access to the school area was restricted, and several students were interviewed by the police, some of them hours after classes ended. One parent told the media that some children were “traumatized by what happened in front of them”.
The school’s principal, Alex Thomas, described the event as “deeply traumatic for the entire school community” in a letter to parents.
Classes for the school’s junior classes were suspended on Wednesday and students were advised to stay home. Students in Years 10–13 continued the normal programme.
Official reactions
Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood said her thoughts were with the injured children and their families, thanking the police for their quick response.
Education Minister Bridget Phillipson said she was “devastated” by what had happened and authorities were in contact with the school and Brent Council to offer support.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, condemned the attack and urged anyone with information to contact the police.
Concern in an area with a large Romanian community
The incident caused unrest in Kingsbury and the surrounding areas, where there is also a large Romanian community.
The investigation is ongoing and police are continuing to determine exactly how the attack took place.
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