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Girl arrested after two teachers and pupil stabbed at south Wales school Girl arrested after two teachers and pupil stabbed at south Wales school
(about 2 hours later)
Heavy police presence at Amman Valley school in Carmarthenshire after 'very distressing incident’ Three taken to hospital after incident at Amman Valley school and teenager held on suspicion of attempted murder
A teenage girl has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after two teachers and a pupil were stabbed at a school in south-west Wales. Dyfed-Powys police said they were continuing to investigate the incident after they were called to the Amman Valley school in Carmarthenshire at 11.20am. A teenage girl has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after two teachers and a pupil were stabbed at a school in south-west Wales.
Supt Ross Evans, the Carmarthenshire commander, said: “Emergency services immediately attended and the school was locked down for the safety of all on the premises. Three people – two teachers and a teenage pupil – have been taken to hospital with stab wounds. The family members of all those injured have been informed. Dyfed-Powys police said the injuries were not life-threatening and officers were continuing to investigate the incident after they were called to Amman Valley school in Carmarthenshire at 11.20am on Wednesday.
“A teenage girl has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and currently remains in police custody. I would like to reassure parents and the public that the incident has concluded, and pupils have now left the school.” Supt Ross Evans, the Carmarthenshire commander, said: “Emergency services immediately attended and the school was locked down for the safety of all on the premises. Three people – two teachers and a teenage pupil – have been taken to hospital with stab wounds.
“The family members of all those injured have been informed. A teenage girl has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and currently remains in police custody. A knife has been recovered in evidence.”
Evans said police were working with the school and other agencies to ensure support was available after the “very distressing incident”. He asked that people stop circulating footage of the incident on social media to avoid contempt of court and causing further distress. He added that officers would be in the area in the coming days.Evans said police were working with the school and other agencies to ensure support was available after the “very distressing incident”. He asked that people stop circulating footage of the incident on social media to avoid contempt of court and causing further distress. He added that officers would be in the area in the coming days.
Anyone with information that could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to Dyfed-Powys police through the dedicated Public Portal. Dyfed-Powys police said in a statement they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident at Amman Valley school in Ammanford. Amman Valley school would remain closed on Thursday to allow police to carry out investigations, said Darren Price, the leader of Carmarthenshire county council. Praising the school’s response to the “shocking incident”, he said wellbeing support would be available for pupils, parents and staff, and that lessons would be moved online.
Emergency services remained at the scene throughout the day and the school was closed while the investigations continued. Air Ambulance helicopters also attended. Emergency services were at the scene throughout Wednesday. The Welsh ambulance service sent four emergency ambulances and a hazardous area response team to the scene. Air ambulance helicopters also attended.
The school released pupils from a lockdown at 3.20pm, where they were greeted with tearful hugs from the parents who had gathered to wait for them. A statement on the Amman Valley school website said: “You will be aware of the incident that has taken place at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman today. The family members of all injured persons have been informed. We would like to reassure parents and the public that the incident has been contained.” The school released pupils at 3.20pm, where they were hugged by tearful parents who had gathered to wait for them.
The first minister of Wales, Vaughan Gething, said on X that he was shocked by the incident. “A deeply worrying time for the school, families and community. Diolch [Thank you] to first responders,” he added. The first minister of Wales, Vaughan Gething, said on X that he was shocked by the incident. “A deeply worrying time for the school, families and community. Diolch [thank you] to first responders,” he added.
The UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, expressed shock. Sunak, who is in Berlin, Germany, posted on X: “Shocked at the news emerging from Ammanford today. I want to thank the police and emergency services for their ongoing response and my thoughts are with all those affected.” The UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, posted during a visit to Berlin on X: “Shocked at the news emerging from Ammanford today. I want to thank the police and emergency services for their ongoing response and my thoughts are with all those affected.”
The home secretary, James Cleverly, said his thoughts were with the people affected. Cleverly, who is in Lampedusa, southern Italy, posted on X: “I am being kept informed about the events in Ammanford, Wales. My thoughts are with the school and all those involved. The home secretary, James Cleverly, said he had been receiving updates about “an incredibly difficult and scary situation” while on a visit to Lampedusa in southern Italy. He praised police and medical services for “acting so promptly” and asserted that the school system and life in the UK were “very safe”.
“I want to thank the police & emergency service for their ongoing response. It is important they are given the space to carry out their investigations.” He said: “Because of the increase in police numbers that we’ve seen in the UK, violent crime has reduced dramatically. Obviously when we see incidents like this, it is horrifying, of course it is, and we will look at the details of what happened.”
The Welsh ambulance service said it was called shortly after 11.15am and sent four emergency ambulances and a hazardous area response team to the scene. Jonathan Edwards, the independent MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, said the incident was a “huge shock” and he could not recall anything like it happening in Wales before.
Social media posts sent from the scene showed a heavy police presence as well as a large number of people waiting outside the school gates. Further footage showed the air ambulance helicopters taking off from the school grounds. Adam Price, the Plaid Cymru MS for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, who attended the school, said it was “an excellent school in a really close-knit community”. He said there would be lessons to learn from the incident to “minimise – as far as is ever humanly possible – the chances of this ever happening again in Ammanford, or any other community in Wales”.
One parent, Charlotte Rogers, who was waiting for her daughter to leave the school, said: “She said she was scared. She’s a tough cookie, so fingers crossed. I just want to give her a big hug. I just want everyone to be safe. This shouldn’t have happened. Social media posts sent from the scene showed a heavy police presence as well as a large number of people waiting outside the school gates. Further footage showed air ambulance helicopters taking off from the school grounds.
“At the end of the day, they should have had measures in place beforehand, when they first opened the school, to make sure it was safe for them.” One parent, Charlotte Rogers, who was waiting for her daughter to leave the school, said: “She said she was scared. She’s a tough cookie, so fingers crossed. I just want to give her a big hug. I just want everyone to be safe. This shouldn’t have happened. At the end of the day, they should have had measures in place beforehand, when they first opened the school, to make sure it was safe for them.”
Amman Valley school, also known as Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, is a bilingual and mixed-gender comprehensive school with about 2,000 pupils. It is known for the sporting prowess of its alumni, who include the Welsh rugby international Shane Williams, the English rugby international Harry Randall, and Hannah Jones and Jac Morgan, captains of Welsh rugby teams. Amman Valley school, also known as Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, is a bilingual and mixed-gender comprehensive school with about 2,000 pupils. It is known for the sporting prowess of its alumni, who include the former Welsh rugby international Shane Williams, the England rugby player Harry Randall and the Wales rugby captains Hannah Jones and Jac Morgan.
Dyfed-Powys police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. Anyone with information that could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to Dyfed-Powys police through a dedicated public portal.