The headteacher of a Welsh school where three people were stabbed has commended staff and students' 'calm and measured' response to the incident.
Two teachers and a pupil were stabbed at Amman Valley School, also known as Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, in Carmarthenshire on Wednesday morning (April 24). Detectives are continuing to quiz a teenage girl on suspicion of attempted murder.
Emergency services, including police, paramedics and two air ambulances, swarmed the scene. The school went into lockdown just after 11.20am after the stabbing at the end of morning break.
READ MORE: Detectives continue to quiz girl after teachers and pupil stabbed at Welsh school
Dyfed-Powys Police said two teachers and a teenage pupil were taken to hospital with stab wounds. Their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
The school has remained closed today (Thursday April 25) as police continue their investigations. Students have been given an option to continue with their classes online.
In an update on the school's website, headteacher James Durbridge said: "I wish to commend all staff and pupils for their calm and mature response during today’s lockdown. We are proud to have witnessed pupils embodying the school’s core values while supporting their peers and staff."
The teachers were stabbed while trying to help when a pupil was attacked, Jonathan Edwards, Independent MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, told Channel 5 News. He said two teachers were taken to hospital, one of whom has since been released with injuries to the arm and hand, while the other has been transferred to Cardiff as the 'situation is far more serious'.
One teacher, Darrel Campbell, is said to have intervened and disarmed a girl before emergency services arrived, according to reports. He is said to have not been harmed during the incident.
After the 'Code Red' lockdown for several hours, pupils were able to leave at around 3.20pm. Parents who gathered outside the school as news of the incident emerged were seen tearfully hugging their children after they walked through the gates.
Investigators in white forensic suits were seen examining an area by the main building of the school, with police by the main entrance and nearby streets. Police have asked for footage of the incident, circulating on social media, to be removed to avoid distress to those affected.
The force has also asked people not to speculate while their investigation is ongoing. Dafydd Llywelyn, police and crime commissioner for Dyfed-Powys, said he was deeply shocked. Mr Llywelyn said: "My thoughts go out to all those affected, including the pupils, teachers and staff who were involved or witnessed this terrifying ordeal. Our thoughts are also with the families and friends of those injured.
"I want to commend those at the scene that ensured that the situation was brought under control and the emergency services who attended to safeguard the scene and reassure the public." Mr Llywelyn added: "I want to assure the public that the police investigation is ongoing, and that officers and staff will work tirelessly to understand the circumstances surrounding this incident."
Politicians across Wales and the UK have also described their shock at what happened. First Minister Vaughan Gething posted on X, formerly Twitter, that it was a 'deeply worrying time for the school, families and community'.
Also on X, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak thanked the police and emergency services for their work. Adam Price, Plaid Cymru MS for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, who attended the school between 1980 and 1987, described the incident as a 'bolt from the blue'.
He told the PA news agency there would be lessons to learn to minimise the chances of such an incident happening again. Mair Wyn, who has been a governor at Amman Valley School for 34 years, said 'times have changed' and 'a teacher's job is very dangerous'.
She said: "It is a complete shock for the community. It's an excellent school, the pupils are such lovely children and I can't understand why this issue has happened, it's unbelievable really."
She added: "It's a very big concern what the future will hold. The discipline has gone from schools. Times have changed. Things are happening now, a teacher's job is very dangerous. I fear now for these two teachers that have been injured.
"Times have changed in the last 10 years. You looked up to a teacher in my time, you were afraid of a teacher. But I think every school is under danger really when you think about it, you don't know what's around the corner."
