Manchester faculty retains pupils inside as police reply to ‘particular person with a knife’
Pupils at Co-op Academy Walkden in Salford were kept inside after police were called to respond to reports of an “individual in the local area who reportedly has a knife” just a day after s stabbing in Manchester
Co-op Academy Walkden kept pupils inside as police responded (file)(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Parents were warned of a possible knife threat near another Co-op Academy secondary school today (June 10). Pupils at Co-op Academy Walkden in Salford were kept indoors over lunchtime on Wednesday ‘as a precautionary measure’.
The incident comes after a day after another Co-op Academy in Manchester saw two pupils and a teacher suffer stabs wounds. Today, Parents were informed about the incident by Co-op Academy Walkden just before 1pm and told ‘police have been alerted and are dealing with this’.
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed they responded to reports of an individual with a knife and arrived at the scene within 10 minutes, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Following initial investigations ‘there is currently no confirmation that a knife was seen’.
In the message to parents at Co-op Academy Walkden on Wednesday, the school stated: “We have been alerted to an unknown individual in the local area who reportedly has a knife. Police have been alerted and are dealing with this.
“In the meantime there is no known threat to our Academy. As a precautionary measure all pupils are being kept indoors during lunch.
“We will update you as soon as we know more information from the police.”
Parents were subsequently advised not to reach out to their children, with all updates to come directly from the school.
Regarding the incident yesterday in Manchester, Co-op Academies Trust released additional information about the incident that took place at the Plant Hill Road school, disclosing that it occurred shortly after the start of the school day.
The trust praised staff for acting ‘bravely’ and swiftly detaining the student before the arrival of emergency services.
Addressing concerns regarding school security, a spokesperson stated that the academy adheres to Department for Education guidelines on screening and searches but had ‘no reason to conduct a search on any student this morning’.
Parents and relatives expressed their shock at the news that had sent ripples through the school community.
Speaking on today’s incident at Salford, a spokesperson for GMP said: “We were called at around 12.20pm today following reports of an individual seen near a school with a knife. Officers attended promptly and were on scene within 10 minutes.
“Following initial enquiries, there is currently no confirmation that a knife was seen. The informant has since stated they did not see a weapon themselves but instead heard it through friends.
“Officers continue to carry out enquiries to establish the full circumstances.”
This incident follows a day after two students and a staff member were injured at Co-op Academy Manchester in Blackley.
Police confirmed a male staff member was stabbed in the neck, while a 14-year-old girl sustained knife injuries to her shoulder and a 14-year-old boy suffered injuries to his ear during that incident.
A 14-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault and remains in police custody. The girl has since been detained under the Mental Health Act, police confirmed today (June 10).
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