Girl arrested as three injured in Ammanford school stabbing

Two teachers and a teenage pupil at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, in Ammanford, were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening stab wounds, Dyfed-Powys Police said.

The BBC has been told that deputy head teacher Fiona Elias was among the injured.

Pupils at the Carmarthenshire school were locked in their classrooms for about four hours following the incident, which happened at 11:20 BST on Wednesday.

The school will remain closed on Thursday to aid the police investigation into the incident, with pupils able to take lessons online.

Speaking outside the school, Supt Ross Evans said: "Two teachers and a teenage pupil were taken to hospital with stab wounds. Their injuries are not life threatening.

"A teenage girl has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and currently remains in police custody. A knife has been recovered in evidence.

"I would also ask that people do not speculate whilst there is a police investigation ongoing and to refer to official channels for updates."

Head teacher James Durbridge praised staff and students for their "calm and mature response" to the lockdown.

In a message on the school's website, he said: "Today has been a very difficult day... It goes without saying that my thoughts are with the three individuals and their families, who have been affected by today's incident."

He added: "We are proud to have witnessed pupils embodying the school's core values while supporting their peers and staff."

Mr Durbridge said that even though the school would be closed on Thursday, support would still be available to anyone affected.

Wales' First Minister Vaughan Gething said he was "shocked" to hear news of the "serious incident".

"A deeply worrying time for the school, families and community. Diolch [thank you] to first responders," he said.

Writing on X, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "I want to thank the police and emergency services for their ongoing response and my thoughts are with all those affected."

Supt Evans added the people of Ammanford would see more police patrolling in the area over the coming days as the investigation continued.

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

Where is Ysgol Dyffryn Aman?

Ysgol Dyffryn Aman - which translates as Amman Valley School in English - is a bilingual comprehensive school in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire.

The school, which educates 11 to 18-year-olds, has about 1,450 pupils.

It's about 20 miles (32km) from the centre of Swansea and 60 miles (97km) from Cardiff.

Emergency services - including two air ambulance helicopters - attended the school shortly after 11:20.

Lisa Barrett, whose daughter attends the school, told the BBC her daughter texted her to say the school was in lockdown.

"It is really worrying," Ms Barrett had said.

"You hear from your child saying someone has been stabbed you don't know what to do."

Hundreds of parents then lined the school gates waiting to hear news of the safety of their children locked inside.

It was not until about 15:20 that the secondary school announced the situation had been "contained" and police began letting children leave.

Head girl, 18-year-old Megan Keyte, who was out of school for the day, said the incident was “out of the blue”.

"One of my friends was inside just trying to do her psychology lesson and they were told ‘code red, you’re in lockdown’," she said.

“You never expect something like this to happen in our school or this area. But it shows how the community comes together so quickly."

Patrick Roach, from teaching union NASUWT, called the incident “extremely distressing”.

“Schools should be places of safety and sanctuary, and it will be of the utmost concern for every teacher whenever that sense of safety and security has been broken,” he said.

“No teacher should have to fear being assaulted at work."

-bbc