A secondary school in Manchester was thrust into chaos after a teenage girl allegedly launched a knife attack inside a classroom, leaving two students and a teacher injured before staff members brought the situation under control.
The alarming incident unfolded at Co-op Academy Manchester on Tuesday morning, prompting an immediate lockdown and a major emergency response.
Police later arrested a 14-year-old girl on suspicion of wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Authorities confirmed that there is no ongoing threat to the public and that the suspect remains in custody while investigations continue.
Science Teacher Injured While Protecting Students
Witnesses described how a member of staff, identified by students and parents as science teacher Mr Abdullah, intervened when the attack began inside a classroom.
According to accounts from pupils and parents, the teacher attempted to disarm the teenager and separate her from other students. During the struggle, he suffered a wound to the neck.
Emergency services reported that a 27-year-old male staff member was among three people injured during the incident.
The other victims included a 14-year-old girl who sustained a shoulder injury and a 14-year-old boy who suffered an injury to his ear.
All three were taken to hospital as a precaution and were later reported to be in stable condition, with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
Staff Acted Quickly to Contain the Situation
Witnesses said several teachers moved rapidly to prevent the suspect from leaving the classroom after the attack began.
According to one student, staff members held the classroom door shut after the armed teenager allegedly tried to leave and reach other parts of the school.
The witness claimed teachers managed to keep her contained until she eventually dropped the weapon and police arrived.
Another pupil recalled hearing a classmate scream that she had been stabbed as students fled the scene.
The rapid response by staff was credited with preventing the incident from escalating further.
Police Launch Investigation After Arrest
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that officers responded to reports of a serious incident at the academy and arrested a 14-year-old female student at the scene.
Chief Inspector Jon Shilvock acknowledged the concern the incident would cause among students, parents, and staff.
He stated that school employees dealt with the situation swiftly before officers arrived and emphasized that investigators do not believe anyone else was involved.
Police officers are expected to maintain a visible presence around the school in the coming days to reassure the community.
School Grounds Filled With Emergency Responders
Images from the scene showed police vehicles and ambulances positioned both outside and inside the school grounds.
A helicopter was also observed circling overhead as anxious parents gathered near the academy waiting for updates.
Traffic congestion developed around the school while families rushed to collect their children.
The school, located on Plant Hill Road in Blackley, serves approximately 1,650 students and was rated “Good” during its most recent inspection.
Headteacher Announces Immediate Closure
Following the incident, headteacher Phill Quirk informed parents that the school would close for the remainder of the day.
School leaders began contacting families to authorize students’ departure from the campus and arranged a controlled release process to ensure pupils left safely.
Officials stressed that the situation had been contained and that all students were secure.
Parents Describe Fear and Confusion
Many parents expressed shock after learning of the attack.
Some said they first became aware of the situation through social media rather than direct communication from the school.
Others described arriving at the academy to find large numbers of worried families waiting outside.
Several parents voiced concern about the growing issue of knife crime and questioned how a weapon had been brought onto school grounds.
One father said his son described a frightening scene in which the teacher attempted to protect students before being injured.
Another parent said children were deeply shaken by what they had witnessed.
Mayor Responds as Community Seeks Answers
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said initial information suggested the incident involved a student rather than an outside intruder.
He described the event as deeply troubling for pupils, families, and school staff and pledged that authorities would work closely with the academy and police to determine exactly what happened.
Burnham also indicated he would continue receiving updates from investigators throughout the day.
Academy Trust Praises Staff and Plans Reopening
In a statement issued after the attack, the Co-op Academies Trust commended employees for their response, saying staff acted courageously to restrain the student before emergency services arrived.
The trust also praised students for remaining calm during the lockdown.
Officials confirmed that the incident occurred shortly after the start of the school day and reiterated that police regard it as an isolated event.
The academy is expected to reopen as normal the following day, with additional emotional support available for students and staff. Local police officers will also remain in the area to provide reassurance.
Addressing questions about security procedures, the trust noted that while schools have powers to conduct searches under government guidance, there had been no prior indication that would have justified searching the student before the incident.
It added that small weapons can sometimes be concealed without raising immediate suspicion, making such incidents difficult to predict.
