Counter-terror police are leading an investigation into a double stabbing at a school in north-west London.
Two boys, aged 12 and 13, are in a serious condition after the attack, which happened at Kingsbury High School, on Bacon Lane in Brent, at Tuesday lunchtime.
On Tuesday evening, a 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Parents suggested that the suspect may have been a suspended or former pupil at the school and was armed with a sharp weapon when he launched what was described as an “American-style attack”.
One of the victims has been hailed as a hero for attempting to raise the alarm before the attacker chased him down.
Detectives said the attack had not been declared a terrorist incident, but that counter-terror police were leading the investigation because of the “surrounding circumstances”.
Det Ch Supt Luke Williams, of the Metropolitan Police, told a press conference at the scene on Tuesday night: “This is a fast-moving and developing investigation, but we’re not currently looking for anyone else in relation to this incident.
“At this very early stage, we’re keeping an open mind as to any motivation behind this attack. However, due to the surrounding circumstances, the investigation is now being led by officers from Counter-Terrorism Policing London.
“This has not currently been declared a terrorist incident, and the investigation team will now be working at pace to gather any evidence and to establish the full circumstances of what has happened as quickly as possible.”
Det Ch Supt Williams said both injured boys were in a “serious” condition and receiving “urgent care”.
Simon Theodorou, a martial arts teacher who has a child at the school, claimed the attacker “managed to get his way in by climbing over a wall”.
It is understood the school had security staff on the main gate, which was often locked for the majority of the day.
The attacker is then believed to have entered a classroom with a weapon.
“Apparently one of the two pupils saw what was going on and pulled the fire alarm to get help,” said Mr Theodorou. “That boy is a hero. He did something, he didn’t just let it happen. More children could have been hurt.”
The attack is believed to have taken place in a science classroom, with terrified pupils seen banging on the windows and calling for help.
Mr Theodorou called it an “American-style” attack and said he was “not surprised” there had been an incident because “most of the kids these days are carrying knives”. He also claimed the suspect may have “previously been excluded”.
Another parent of a year-eight pupil, who did not wish to be named, claimed they had been told that a former pupil had carried out the attack.
Shailesh Sayta, a delivery driver who is a parent of a pupil at the school, said children were in tears after the attack. He said his son had heard that someone “stabbed a boy in the neck with a fork and he was bleeding”.
“My son said a guy came out holding his neck with blood all over his white shirt,” he said. “People are saying the person came from outside the school. My son said he was faking that he was [from the school] by wearing a jumper or a jacket from the school.”
The Met said armed officers were on the scene within minutes of receiving a 999 call. The suspect, understood to have fled, was arrested shortly afterwards and a weapon was recovered, police said.
The school was locked down after the stabbing, with police helicopters deployed to the area. Around half a dozen police cars were seen outside.
