Secondary school locked down after pupil allegedly receives threatening messages

A secondary school in Wales is reportedly in lockdown after a pupil allegedly received threatening messages.

Pupils at Ebbw Fawr learning community in Ebbw Vale were allegedly hiding under desks after the alarming incident. Gwent Police said a teenage boy had been arrested on suspicion of making threats and that officers were on the scene. It is the second school lockdown in recent days in Wales.

Earlier this week, two teachers and one pupil needed hospital treatment after being injured at a secondary school in nearby Ammanford. A teenage girl has appeared in court accused with three counts of attempted murder of two teachers and a pupil at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman.

A teacher at the school, which cater for pupils from ages 3-16, said everyone involved in the current incident had been asked to stay in their classroom but that staff and pupils were calm. Parents received a message at around 10.30am to let them know that the sent school was in "partial lockdown", reports Wales Online.

A road to the school has been closed off as investigations continue at the scene.

Parent Maria Tudor said because the school did not give a reason for the 'partial lockdown' she thought it was a safety drill rather than a real lockdown. She said she was "petrified" when her 14-year-old son texted to say he was locked in a classroom with his class.

"I thought it was a general procedure practice when the school texted but then my son texted me. He said they had not been told anything about why they were in lockdown. He is on the second floor locked in a classroom with his class, he is in a history class.

"I last spoke to him about 12pm and he said he was OK and they were just waiting for the all clear. I am petrified after what has happened this week.

"We don't really know what happened. I am going down to the school as soon as I can to pick him up when the lockdown ends. I am extremely worried but am confident the teachers are keeping children safe."

A spokesperson for Gwent Police said: "We received a call to report that Ebbw Fawr Learning Community had been placed in partial lockdown at around 10.20am after a teenage pupil had allegedly received threatening messages.

"Our officers are in attendance. We have arrested a teenage boy on suspicion of making threats.

"The arrest did not take place on school premises and was not in the Ebbw Vale area. Our enquiries are ongoing."

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