Ammanford 'stabbing' latest updates: Teenage girl is arrested for attempted murder as two teachers and teen pupil are rushed to hospital with knife wounds

A teacher who was stabbed alongside her colleague and her colleague has been named as the school’s head of year seven.

Drama and Welsh teacher Fiona Elias was revealed by the BBC to be among the three being treated for non-life threatening injuries after the incident this morning.

Police have arrested a teenage girl student on suspicion of attempted murder after she allegedly stabbed two female teachers and a young pupil with a butterfly knife.

It is understood that a Year Nine pupil, a girl aged 14 or 15, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and taken away in handcuffs for questioning.

Both teachers were airlifted to hospital following what police called a ‘multiple stabbing’ at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman (Aman valley School) in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire.

The injuries suffered by the two teachers and the pupil are not life-threatening, Dyfed-Powys Police said.

Eye-witnesses said one was slashed across the throat with a butterfly knife and six paramedics carried her into a helicopter on the school playing field.

In his statement, Superintendent Ross Evans confirmed: ‘A knife has been recovered as evidence.’

The injuries suffered by two teachers and a teenage pupil who were stabbed at a school in Wales are not life-threatening, Dyfed-Powys Police said.

A hero teacher bravely disarmed a schoolgirl ‘going mad’ with a knife slashing other teachers and a pupil in the playground.

Darrell Campbell waded into the morning break mayhem to wrestle a butterfly knife from the teenage girl.

An eye-witness said Mr Campbell put the girl into an armlock until police and emergency services arrived. Neither of the injured teachers’ injuries are said to be life-threatening.

The 1800-pupil Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, was put into lockdown after a ‘Code Red’ was called over the speaker system.

The girl, a Year Nine pupil, was handcuffed and taken away for questioning into what police described as a ‘multiple stabbing’.

In a statement Dyfed-Powys Police said a teenage girl had been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the stabbing at Amman Valley School.

Superintendent Ross Evans, Carmarthenshire Commander, said: ‘Just after 11.20am this morning we received a call advising us of an incident at Amman Valley School in Carmarthenshire.

‘Emergency services immediately attended and the school was locked down for the safety of all on the premises.

‘A teenage girl has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and currently remains in police custody. 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.

‘I would like to reassure parents and the public that the incident has concluded, and pupils have now left the school.

‘We are working with the school and other agencies to ensure appropriate support is available to all involved.

‘This was a very distressing incident and our thoughts are with the victims, their family and everyone impacted by what has happened.

‘I am aware that there is footage of the incident currently circulating on social media and would ask that this is removed to avoid contempt of court and distress to those affected.

‘I would also ask that people do not speculate while there is a police investigation ongoing.

‘We are working with the school, Carmarthenshire County Council, and other agencies to ensure appropriate support is available to all involved.

‘Local people will see more police in the area over the coming days as the investigation continues.’

Dyfed-Powys Police have confiremd that a teenage girl has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody.

Superintendent Ross Evans, Carmarthenshire Commander, said: ‘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.

‘I would like to reassure parents and the public that the incident has concluded, and pupils have now left the school.’

Here is a look at the moment pupils of Ysgol Dyffryn Ama leave the school while police are stationed outside.

This came after the school was put under ‘code red’ and pupils were locked in their classrooms for several hours.

Wales’ First Minister Vaughan Gething has said he is absolutely ‘shocked’ at reports of the stabbing.

‘Schools should be a place of safety, learning and discovery,’ he told the BBC.

‘It is deeply sad and distressing that today teachers and pupils have had that safety shattered by a violent incident.’

Local Senedd member Adam Price, who is a former pupil at the school, also said it was ‘extremely shocking and saddening to hear of this awful incident’

Terrified mother Charlotte Rogers, who was waiting for her daughter to come out of the Ammanford school, has said: ‘She said that one teacher and two pupils had been stabbed, that’s all I know.

‘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.’

Here are the main points we know so far:

• Police were called to what has been described as a ‘major incident’ at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, also known as Amman Valley School, in Ammanford in the south Wales county this morning.
• Three people have been injured and a schoolgirl is believed to have been arrested. Police say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
• The incident is said to have involved two girls before two staff intervened, a senior educational professional, who does not work at the school.
• An air ambulance has landed at the school and dozens of police cars as crowds of parents gather outside the school gates
• Terrified students jumped the 7ft-high perimeter fence to escape the horror attack which took place after the mid-morning break.
• First Minister Vaughan Gething has said he is ‘shocked’ to hear news of a serious incident at the school
• Police will now provide an update at the school at 5.30pm today.

Dyfed-Powys Police has announced it will give an update this afternoon on today’s incident.

Supt Ross Evans will read a statement at the school at 17.30 BST, the BBC reports.

More footage has emerged of police and ambulances at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, also known as Amman Valley School, in Ammanford, following unconfirmed reports of a stabbing earlier today.

Children are being released from the school after it had earlier been placed into lockdown.

Large crowds of parents had gathered outside the school gates following unconfirmed reports of a stabbing that had left three people injured, two of whom are said to be members of staff.

Police said one person has been arrested and has moved to assure parents the incident is contained. Carmarthenshire County Council has echoed the statement and added family members of those injured had been informed.

As we await further details on the major incident at the secondary school, let’s take a look at photographs of the emergency response.

A headteachers’ union described an incident at a school in Ammanford as “horrifying”.

Eithne Hughes, director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, said:

While we don’t know the full details of what has happened, this is clearly a horrifying incident and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected at the school and in the wider community

The Welsh Ambulance Service said advanced critical care support was provided following an incident at a school in Ammanford in which three people were injured.

A spokeswoman said: We were called shortly after 11.15am to an incident on Margaret Street in Ammanford.

We sent four emergency ambulances and the hazardous area response team to the scene, where crews were supported by two Cymru high acuity response unit paramedics and an operational manager.

Advanced critical care support was delivered by the emergency medical retrieval and transfer service in two Wales Air Ambulance charity helicopters.

The school’s chair of governors has said the incident this morning was “out of the blue” and out of character for his “happy school”.

Cllr David Jenkins has served as a governor at the school for the past 14 years and has been the chair for the last three weeks.

He told Wales Online he had spoken to the headteacher by phone who confirmed the incident had been contained.

This was out of the blue. I am shocked and surprised because it is a happy school and we’ve had no problems of this kind before. I am going into the school this afternoon for a meeting. I tried to attend the school this morning but could not get access because it was in lockdown.

I spoke to the head by phone while police were there. He confirmed the situation and said it was contained. He assured me the injured parties were sent to hospital but I do not know how serious the injuries were.

Footage captured outside the school shows two air ambulances as well as police and ambulances as emergency services respond to a major incident this morning

Carmarthensire County Council has published a statement on its website in which it says the relatives of those injured have been informed and that the incident has been contained.

Dyfed-Powys Police is dealing with an incident at Amman Valley School.

Three people have been injured and are receiving treatment.

One person has been arrested and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.

Emergency services remain at scene and the school has been closed while investigations continue.

We are working closely with the school and Carmarthenshire County Council.

We are aware that there is footage of the incident currently circulating on social media. We would ask that this is removed to avoid contempt of court and distress to those affected.

We would ask the people do not speculate while there is a police investigation ongoing.

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

A councillor and governor at the school has said she was told the incident involved a stabbing which left two members of staff injured.

Speaking to Wales Online, Cllr Karen Davies said:

I have been told someone has been arrested and that two members of staff have been stabbed, but have no confirmation on how serious the injuries are.

I send my thoughts to those injured and all the people there. I know how well the school rehearsed lockdown and I am sure everything is under control. It is shocking.

You hear about these things happening in Manchester and London but it is literally our comprehensive here.

Police have yet to confirm reports of a knife attack.

Ammanford is a former coal mining town in Carmathenshire in the south-west of Wales.

Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, also known as Amman Valley School, is a Welsh language school with 1,800 pupils aged 11 to 18.

The school is situated in the north of the Ammanford town centre, while the town itself is a few miles north-east of the western terminus of the M4.

Former pupils at the school include ex-Wales and British Lions rugby star Shane Williams and former MP Adam Price.

Rishi Sunak and James Cleverly have both tweeted about the the incident in Ammanford earlier today

The Prime Minister said he was “shocked” by events while the Home Secretary said he is being kept informed about

Parents have said their children have messaged them to say the school has been placed under a lockdown while one mother described the situation as a “code red”.

Mother Lisa Barrett told BBC Wales:

This is not something you expect – you drive your child to school and think they will be safe. It is good to know that the children are locked in the classrooms.

I am just waiting. I don’t know if I should go down there or not.

Another mother, named Rebecca, who is waiting outside the school gates, told ITV Cymru Wales said the school is being kept on “code red”.

Obviously I’ve seen the blue lights, and I know we don’t blue light unless we have to and I’ve seen the air ambulance leave

They’re keeping the school on lockdown -code red as they’re calling it – and the police will be speaking to the classes individually, then take them to get their lunch, then take them back to their classrooms.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said:

Dyfed-Powys Police is dealing with an incident at Amman Valley School. Three people have been injured and are receiving treatment.

One person has been arrested and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident. Emergency services remain at scene and the school has been closed while investigations continue.

We are working closely with the school and Carmarthenshire County Council. We are aware that there is footage of the incident currently circulating on social media. We would ask that this is removed to avoid contempt of court and distress to those affected. We would ask the people do not speculate while there is a police investigation ongoing.

Here’s the main points we know so far

• Police were called to what has been described as a “major incident” at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, also known as Amman Valley School, in Ammanford in the south Wales county this morning.
• Three people have been injured and one person has been arrested. Police say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
• There have been reports of a stabbing at the school where classrooms are said to have been placed in lockdown.
• An air ambulance has landed at the school and dozens of police cars as crowds of parents gather outside the school gates
• First Minister Vaughan Gething has said he is “shocked” to hear news of a serious incident at the school

We will be providing live updates following a major incident at the Amman Valley School in Carmarthenshire earlier this morning.

Dyfed-Powys Police has confirmed one person has been arrested following unconfirmed reports of a stabbing.

We will bring you the latest developments throughout the afternoon.