A 14-year-old girl has been charged with attempted murder following a stabbing at a Manchester school. Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation into the incident, which injured two students and a staff member.
The involvement of a counter-terrorism unit highlights the seriousness with which authorities are treating the incident, while the arrest and charging of a minor raise concerns about youth radicalization and mental health.
A counter-terrorism unit has taken the lead in investigating a stabbing incident that occurred at the Co-op academy in Blackley, Manchester. Two students, a boy and a girl both aged 14, and a 27-year-old male staff member sustained injuries consistent with stab wounds. The injuries were reported as non-serious, and all three have since been discharged from the hospital.
A 14-year-old girl was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault and subsequently detained under the Mental Health Act. Detectives have stated they are keeping an open mind regarding the motivation behind the attack and have not officially classified it as a terrorist incident.
Ch Supt David Meeney, the city of Manchester’s district commander, confirmed that Counter-Terrorism Policing North-West was made aware of further information that came to light. He assured the public that there is no indication of any further threat and that local officers remain present in the area to address community concerns.
During the incident, students were placed in lockdown within their classrooms. Some parents reported receiving information about the situation through their children rather than direct communication from the school, which initially sent a message to parents stating an "incident" had occurred but that everyone was safe.