A 14-year-old girl has been charged with three counts of attempted murder after a knife attack at a Manchester school that left a teacher and two pupils injured.
The teacher, Maysum Abdullah, 27, a science teacher and married father of one, suffered stab wounds to his neck and hand after intervening. In his first words since returning home from hospital, he said: "I'm recovering, but I am in a lot of pain." His wife Samia wrote on social media: "No one ever expects to receive a phone call telling them that their loved one has been taken to the hospital after being stabbed."
“14-year-old girl charged with attempted murder after stabbing teacher and two pupils at Manchester school.”
The attack happened at Co-op Academy on Plant Hill Road in Blackley at about 08:30 BST on Tuesday. A 14-year-old boy suffered injuries to his ear, a 14-year-old girl suffered knife injuries to her shoulder, and Abdullah was stabbed in the neck. All three were taken to hospital and later discharged with non-serious injuries.
Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation, though the incident has not been declared a terrorist attack. Det Ch Supt Jonathan Chadwick, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North West, said: "These are extremely serious charges against a young girl and, working closely with Greater Manchester Police, we continue to support the victims and their families and offer support to the wider school community."
The suspect had been detained under the Mental Health Act before being released to police custody. She also faces two counts of possessing a bladed article on school premises and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Friday.
The school was immediately locked down after the stabbings. A Co-op Academy spokesperson said: "We are incredibly proud of the swift actions of our staff and the mature response of our pupils."
The following day, another school in the same trust – Co-op Academy Walkden in Salford – was locked down as a precaution after reports of a person with a knife nearby. Police attended within 10 minutes but said there was no confirmation a knife was seen. Parents were told pupils were kept indoors during lunch.
The investigation continues.