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| Multiple stabbings at Pennsylvania school before police arrest suspect | Multiple stabbings at Pennsylvania school before police arrest suspect |
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| A 16-year-old student embarked on a stabbing spree at a Pennsylvania high school on Wednesday that left 20 people injured before he was apprehended by staff. | A 16-year-old student embarked on a stabbing spree at a Pennsylvania high school on Wednesday that left 20 people injured before he was apprehended by staff. |
| Police said the boy brandished two knives in the attack, apparently slashing fellow students at random. Officials said 19 students and a school police officer were injured. | |
| Emergency officials said the student was taken into custody after the incident at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, about 15 miles from Pittsburgh. He was subdued by the school police officer and an assistant principal. | Emergency officials said the student was taken into custody after the incident at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, about 15 miles from Pittsburgh. He was subdued by the school police officer and an assistant principal. |
| Thomas Seefeld, the Murrysville police chief, said that the suspect walked down the school’s hallway “flashing two knives around”. He said that many victims were found in the ground floor hallway and on the grass outside the school. “We have a crime scene that is pretty vast,” said Seefeld. | |
| Seefeld said investigators were looking into reports that a threatening phone call took place between the suspect and another student on Tuesday night. | Seefeld said investigators were looking into reports that a threatening phone call took place between the suspect and another student on Tuesday night. |
| The attack took place as students were arriving for the start of the school day. One of the students pulled a fire alarm after witnessing some of the stabbings. Seefeld said that although the alarm led to chaotic scenes, it meant that students rushed out of the building to safety faster than might otherwise have happened. | The attack took place as students were arriving for the start of the school day. One of the students pulled a fire alarm after witnessing some of the stabbings. Seefeld said that although the alarm led to chaotic scenes, it meant that students rushed out of the building to safety faster than might otherwise have happened. |
| Eight students, all male, were taken to Forbes hospital, according to Dr Mark Rubino, the chief medical officer. Rubino said many of the injuries were similar: “Most were to the right lower abdomen and the right flank,” he said. | Eight students, all male, were taken to Forbes hospital, according to Dr Mark Rubino, the chief medical officer. Rubino said many of the injuries were similar: “Most were to the right lower abdomen and the right flank,” he said. |
| Three of the students at Forbes hospital were in surgery on Wednesday, and two were in a critical condition. “Two of them have relatively significant injuries to their abdominal organs,” said Rubino. | Three of the students at Forbes hospital were in surgery on Wednesday, and two were in a critical condition. “Two of them have relatively significant injuries to their abdominal organs,” said Rubino. |
| Dr Chris Kaufmann, director of the trauma center at Forbes, said the injuries were “quite serious, they’re not superficial in nature” and that several had the potential to be life threatening, although all were expected to survive.The youngest victim at the hospital was 15, he said. | Dr Chris Kaufmann, director of the trauma center at Forbes, said the injuries were “quite serious, they’re not superficial in nature” and that several had the potential to be life threatening, although all were expected to survive.The youngest victim at the hospital was 15, he said. |
| Four hospitals affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center received 12 victims. Two of them, a 17-year-old male and a 14-year-old male, were in critical condition. Two other students were in serious condition, and the others were either in fair or better condition or had been released. The school police officer was treated and released for superficial wounds, according to UPMC officials. | Four hospitals affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center received 12 victims. Two of them, a 17-year-old male and a 14-year-old male, were in critical condition. Two other students were in serious condition, and the others were either in fair or better condition or had been released. The school police officer was treated and released for superficial wounds, according to UPMC officials. |
| Dan Stevens, Westmoreland county emergency management spokesman, said not all of the 20 victims suffered knife injuries – some had suffered scrapes and cuts in the mayhem that followed the attack. | Dan Stevens, Westmoreland county emergency management spokesman, said not all of the 20 victims suffered knife injuries – some had suffered scrapes and cuts in the mayhem that followed the attack. |
| Stevens said Murrysville was a low-crime area and that the school had recently undergone emergency training. “You can plan for these things, you’re just never prepared for them,” said Stevens. | Stevens said Murrysville was a low-crime area and that the school had recently undergone emergency training. “You can plan for these things, you’re just never prepared for them,” said Stevens. |
| The school was on lockdown after reports of the incident came in at 7:20am. The school said on its website: “A critical incident has occurred at the high school. All elementary schools are canceled, the middle school and high school students are secure." | The school was on lockdown after reports of the incident came in at 7:20am. The school said on its website: “A critical incident has occurred at the high school. All elementary schools are canceled, the middle school and high school students are secure." |
| In a statement, Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett said: “I was shocked and saddened upon learning of the events that occurred this morning as students arrived at Franklin Regional High School. As a parent and grandparent, I can think of nothing more distressing than senseless violence against children. My heart and prayers go out to all the victims and their families. | In a statement, Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett said: “I was shocked and saddened upon learning of the events that occurred this morning as students arrived at Franklin Regional High School. As a parent and grandparent, I can think of nothing more distressing than senseless violence against children. My heart and prayers go out to all the victims and their families. |
| “I have directed the Pennsylvania State Police to assist local law enforcement in its investigation in any way possible. Other state resources will be made available to the community, if needed. I assure the citizens of Murrysville that they have the full support of my administration.” | “I have directed the Pennsylvania State Police to assist local law enforcement in its investigation in any way possible. Other state resources will be made available to the community, if needed. I assure the citizens of Murrysville that they have the full support of my administration.” |
| The Associated Press contributed to this report | The Associated Press contributed to this report |
| #BREAKING: As many as 6 people stabbed at Franklin Regional High School. LIVE COVERAGE: http://t.co/Xa7YQxzDne pic.twitter.com/n9haz0nGKo | #BREAKING: As many as 6 people stabbed at Franklin Regional High School. LIVE COVERAGE: http://t.co/Xa7YQxzDne pic.twitter.com/n9haz0nGKo |