A 15-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder after a teenage girl was stabbed in a Norwich school.
The youngster was rushed to hospital after the attack at Thorpe St Andrew School on Wednesday morning, which saw classrooms thrown into lockdown.
Terrified pupils were left cowering under desks while stressed parents waited outside the gates.
The alleged knifeman fled the scene. Police arrested a 15-year-old British boy in the hours that followed.
He was taken to Wymondham police investigation centre for questioning.
Norfolk Police have since charged the boy with attempted murder and possession of a knife on school premises.
The teen, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been remanded into custody and is due to appear at Norwich Youth Court on Friday morning.
The charges come after the teenage girl was discharged from hospital today and was said to be ‘doing well’ and would be welcomed ‘back to school when she is ready’.
Police cars outside Thorpe St Andrew School in Norwich on Wednesday
Armed police swarmed the school after reports of a stabbing, sending the school into lockdown
Thorpe St Andrew School said on Thursday that staff ‘remained calm’ throughout ‘a prolonged and understandably distressing situation’.
A spokesperson for the school said: ‘We have written to families to thank them for the many supportive messages we have received over the past day.
‘We are also very pleased to share some reassuring news that the student who was injured has been released from hospital. We understand she is doing well and wish her a quick recovery. We look forward to welcoming her back to school when she is ready.
‘We want to recognise how well our staff and students responded during the lockdown.
‘Throughout a prolonged and understandably distressing situation, staff remained calm, focusing on supporting and protecting the students in their care, who in turn showed great maturity and composure.
‘As the situation unfolded, staff needed to respond to the needs of the particular students in front of them and adapt their approach accordingly, always with the priority of keeping everyone safe and supported.’
The school added that they ‘understand how worrying this event was for families’ and that a number of support measures will be provided to students and families for ‘as long as it is needed’.
The statement continued: ‘We sincerely hope that we, and indeed every other school across the country, never have to put these protocols into practice again and would like to thank the emergency services for their expertise and response yesterday.’
Around 100 parents arrived at the school grounds on Wednesday after hearing the reports on social media, pleading for more information.
Teachers are understood to have used items such as cabinets to barricade classroom doors with the school under lockdown for almost three hours.
The girl, believed to be a Year 10 pupil, was taken to the hospital with ‘minor injuries’.
Norfolk Police said it would continue to have officers at the school and in the local area over the coming days to offer reassurance.
The force said in a statement on Thursday night: ‘A 15-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder following an incident in Thorpe St Andrew yesterday.
‘Police were called to a school, on Laundry Lane at 10.24am, following reports that a teenage girl had been stabbed.
‘A 15-year-old boy was arrested and taken to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre for questioning. He has since been charged with attempted murder and possession of a knife on a school premises.
‘He cannot be named for legal reasons.
‘He has been remanded into custody and is due to appear at Norwich Youth Court tomorrow morning.
‘Officers will continue to conduct reassurance patrols both at the school and in the area over the coming days.’
