Boy, 17, arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after three injured at Sheffield school
One of those injured was hurt with a broken glass, South Yorkshire Police believe
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A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after three people were injured with “a sharp object” at a secondary school in Sheffield.
Birley Academy was put into lockdown on Wednesday morning as a teenager was detained following the incident. South Yorkshire Police said.
Two adults were also injured, with one believed to have been hurt with broken class, Assistance Chief Constable Dan Thorpe said in a press briefing.
ACC Thorpe said his officers arrested a 17-year-old boy at the school “within minutes of the initial call”.
He confirmed that two adults suffered minor injuries – one from a “sharp object believed to be broken glass” – and were checked over by paramedics.
The senior officer told reporters outside the school the child who was assaulted “thankfully has no visible injuries”.
Officers remain at the scene after responding to reports of an incident involving a sharp object at the school on Birley Lane at around 8.50am.
The school went into lockdown and told parents not to attend the premises, but said all staff and students were safe. Students were then seen reuniting with their parents as they left the school as it remains closed for the day.
School head Victoria Hall said: “I just wanted to thank all of our students and staff who helped manage the situation this morning, and our staff who prioritised the safety and wellbeing of all of our students.”
Mrs Hall also praised the students’ “exemplary behaviour”, saying the school will be open on Thursday morning as usual.
Birley Academy is a secondary school in the southeast of Sheffield, with around 1,100 pupils.
One mother outside the school told the BBC that she had received a text from her daughter saying the school was “in lockdown, the lights had gone off, the doors were locked and she was hiding under her desk”.
“It was really scary. I asked if she was joking because it seemed a really surreal situation,” she told the broadcaster.
“She has told me she was OK since then and I’m quite reassured that she is safe.”
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said she was “disturbed” to hear about the incident at The Birley Academy.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, she said: “We’re in touch with the school and my thoughts are with those injured and all the school community affected by this frightening situation.”
A school leaders’ union described an incident as “shocking”.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, said: “The reports coming out of Sheffield are shocking and very upsetting.
“Our thoughts are with everyone in the Birley school community.
“It would not be appropriate for us to comment further until further details about what has taken place are established by the appropriate authorities.”