North Manchester High School Stabbing Horror: Police Update Reveals Triple Attack, Students Trapped Indoors
Two Co-op Academy schools in Greater Manchester were hit by separate knife incidents this week — one leaving three people injured in Blackley, another prompting a lockdown precaution in Walkden. Here's what happened.
Two Co-op Academy high schools in Greater Manchester have been at the center of separate knife-related incidents this week, prompting police investigations and school precautionary measures.
The more serious incident occurred on Tuesday, June 9, at Co-op Academy Manchesteron Plant Hill Road in Blackley, where a 14-year-old schoolgirl, a 14-year-old schoolboy, and a 27-year-old male staff member suffered knife wounds.
According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), the incident unfolded shortly after the start of the school day. Staff at the academy acted bravely and swiftly to detain the female pupil involved before emergency services arrived.
The 14-year-old schoolgirl was subsequently arrested onsuspicion of Section 18 assault. In an update provided on Wednesday, GMP confirmed that she has since been detained under the Mental Health Act.
All three injured individuals were taken to the hospital for treatment. GMP stated that their injuries were not considered serious, and all have since been released after assessment.
The Co-op Academies Trust, which operates the school, praised the staff's prompt actions and the mature response of pupils during the incident.
Addressing security concerns, the trust clarified that while they follow Department for Education guidance on screening and search powers, there had been no prior indicators to warrant a search of any student on that particular morning.
The school reopened as normal on Wednesday, June 10, with full emotional support for pupils and a visible police presence.
GMP's investigation into the Manchester incident is ongoing. Chief Inspector Jon Shilvock urged the public not to speculate on social media regarding names related to the incident, emphasizing that such actions are unhelpful for the investigation and cause concern for victims and those impacted.
Officers continue to provide support to ensure the safety of staff, students, and the wider community.
The following day, on Wednesday, June 10, parents of students at another institution, Co-op Academy Walkden in Salford, were alerted to a potential knife threat outside their school.
As a precautionary measure, all pupils at Co-op Academy Walkden were kept indoors during lunchtime. The school informed parents via message shortly before 1pm that police had been alerted and were handling the situation, assuring them there was "no known threat to our Academy" in the meantime.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed they were called to reports of an individual seen near the Walkden school with a knife, with officers arriving on the scene within 10 minutes.
However, following initial enquiries, there was "currently no confirmation that a knife was seen." The informant later clarified that they had not personally seen a weapon but had heard about it through friends. GMP officers continue their enquiries to establish the full circumstances of this reported incident.