A 13-year-old boy charged with attempted murder is accused of stabbing a pupil in the neck with a kitchen knife in front of numerous children in a high school classroom, a court has heard.
The former pupil, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged earlier on Thursday morning and has appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard that one child sustained three stab wounds, a spinal fracture and injuries to the neck and hands that required surgery during the attack at Kingsbury High School in Brent, north-west London, on Tuesday.
During his court appearance, the former pupil was accused of stabbing another child in the playground and spraying ant spray in the face of a third.
Less than a minute passed between the first and second knife attacks, the court heard.
The defendant, who appeared in court wearing a grey prison-issue tracksuit, filmed the entire attack on his mobile phone but there is no suggestion it was uploaded to social media, the hearing was told.
Two family members sat on the seats in front of the dock and the defendant spoke softly to confirm his name and date of birth.
A 13-year-old boy has been charged with two counts of attempted murder over the stabbing at Kingsbury High School.
(Oscar Rihil, PA Images)
He is accused of the attempted murder of two boys aged 12 and 13, and unlawfully and maliciously administering a noxious thing to a third child.
The boy has also been charged with possession of a knife on school premises without good reason or lawful authority.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring remanded him into a youth detention facility to appear at the Old Bailey on 27 February.
Police said on Wednesday that the attack had not been declared a terrorist incident, and officers are understood to be leaning toward a motivation related to a personal grievance, rather than terrorist ideology.
What we know
Prosecutor Kathryn Selby told the hearing that at just gone midday on on Tuesday, 10 February, the suspect arrived at the classroom door of the school carrying ant spray and the knife.
He allegedly sprayed the ant spray in a child’s face before stabbing the other boy, the prosecution said.
Numerous children and a teacher were present, the court heard.
Reports suggest one of the victims pulled a fire alarm in an attempt to alert teachers to the stabbing.
Selby said he then walked downstairs and stabbed another child in the neck in a playground area, leaving a 3cm wound.
The conditions of two alleged stab victims are not thought to be life-threatening but whether they are life-changing is uncertain, the prosecution said.
The defendant was at large for around three hours before being arrested near a mosque in north-west London, in the NW10 postcode area.
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams speaking to members of the media at Kingsbury High School, north-west London.
(Ben Whitley, PA Images)
Officers were called to the school at 12.40pm.
Pupils, some of whom were crying, and parents were leaving the school on Tuesday evening after being spoken to by police hours after the end of the school day.
What has the reaction been?
Alex Thomas, the school’s headteacher, described the incident as a “deeply traumatic event for the whole school community”.
The leader of Brent Council said it is “horrifying to think of how someone so young came to be in possession of a weapon capable of causing such harm”.
Councillor Muhammed Butt, the leader of Brent Council, thanked the emergency services and school staff for their “swift response”.
Police at Kingsbury High School, north-west London, where two boys, aged 12 and 13, were stabbed.
(SWNS)
He added: “This is a deeply shocking and distressing incident, and our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been injured, their families and the whole school community.
“No parent should ever have to fear for their child’s safety at school, and it is horrifying to think of how someone so young came to be in possession of a weapon capable of causing such harm.”
Speaking after the incident, Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said he understood the incident had been “hugely distressing” for the local community, adding: “I hope the knowledge this was an extraordinary one-off event which led to the swift arrest of the suspect provides some reassurance.
In a post on X, education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “I am heartbroken to hear about the stabbings at a school in Brent. My heart goes out to the families affected and the young people, teachers & school community at this awful time.”
Meanwhile, home secretary Shabana Mahmood said her thoughts and prayers were with the two children stabbed in the “shocking attack”.
She posted on X: “A shocking attack at Kingsbury High School, where two children have been stabbed.
“My thoughts and my prayers are with them, their families and all those affected.“
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan urged anyone with information to contact the police, adding: “There is no honour in staying silent.”
“This awful violence has absolutely no place in our city,” he said.
Click below to see the latest London headlines
