Two boys, aged 13 and 12, in hospital after being stabbed in class at London school

TOI Correspondent from London: Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation into an “American-style” stabbing of two boys, aged 12 and 13, at Kingsbury High School in northwest London.

Police were called at 12.40 pm local time on Tuesday to reports of a stabbing at the comprehensive secondary school in Kingsbury. Armed police were on the scene within 13 minutes of the call.

“The suspect left the scene following the stabbing. After urgent enquiries our officers arrested him and also recovered a weapon which we believe to have been used in the stabbing. We are not currently looking for anyone else,” Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said.

A 13-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He remains in custody where he is being questioned.

Kingsbury is a multicultural area with a significant Indian ethnic population.

According to local media, the arrested boy, a former pupil who had been expelled from the school for fighting, had climbed over the wall to enter the school and allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” as he stabbed two kids in a science lesson. He had come to target one of the boys “in revenge” and the other boy got stabbed because he set off the fire alarm. One boy was reportedly stabbed in the neck and the other in the stomach. Local media report the suspect had dressed in his old school uniform and sprayed the children and science teacher with pepper spray as he entered the classroom. Both injured boys remain in serious but stable condition in hospital. Their injuries are not life-threatening, police said. It has not been declared a terrorist incident.

“At this very early stage, we are keeping an open mind as to any motivation behind this attack,” Williams added.

The school went into lockdown and pupils were held in the playground. The attack has left parents and pupils petrified with some parents calling for metal detectors at the entrance.

The academy school is for pupils aged 11 to 18. Its alumni include Wham’s George Michael and jazz musician Courtney Pine.