A 13-year-old man suspected of stabbing two boys at a secondary school, a former student, was arrested after being seen at a mosque after the attack, which has not been declared a terrorist incident, police said.
Two students at Kingsbury High School in Brent, north-west London, were seriously injured during lunchtime on Tuesday afternoon. Both are now in a “stable” condition in hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.
Det Ch Supt Helen Flanagan, of Counter-Terrorism Policing London, said the suspect, a British national and born in the UK, arrived at the school at around 12.30pm on Tuesday.
He went to a first-floor classroom and after opening the door, sprayed a substance on an uninjured student. The fluid is not considered toxic.
The suspect stabbed the 13-year-old boy in the classroom before running down the hall and down the stairs. He stabbed a 12-year-old boy on the ground floor before running away from the school.
“Police attended the school, and a manhunt immediately ensued to locate and detain the suspect as quickly as possible,” Flanagan said.
“Police were called by a member of the public at around 4.15pm after concerns about a child being seen at a mosque in north-west London.
“Officers attended a short time later and arrested a 13-year-old boy on suspicion of attempted murder and he remains in custody.
“At this time, we do not believe that the suspect has any special connection to that mosque and at this stage, we believe that his arrival in the area was coincidental and everyone at the mosque is very supportive of this investigation.
“This incident has not been declared a terrorist incident.”
It is understood that the authorities are leaning towards personal grievances rather than extremist ideology as motivation for the attack.
Some students suggested the suspect shouted the Muslim phrase “Allahu Akbar” during the attack, while another said he was in a dispute with one of the victims.
Police are investigating various reasons for the attack. The investigation, led by counter-terrorism police, is continuing because initially there may be a terrorist motive, but officials say they are keeping an open mind.
It seems that they are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident and the accused is acting alone.
Around 30 to 40 witnesses are being interviewed, which is said to be a “sensitive process given the young age of many of the witnesses who come from school”.
Police searched three premises – two addresses linked to the suspect and a nearby mosque where the suspect was arrested.
The lower school is closed on Wednesday. Conservative councilor Kanta Mistry, who lives not far from the school, described it as a “very safe school”, producing “top-class students” and set in a “leafy London area”.
After speaking to members of the community, she said: “Shock is a normal thing. We’re very shocked by it, very saddened, but very shocked that it happened here.”
The school’s head teacher, Alex Thomas, said in a letter to parents and carers that the incident was “a deeply distressing incident for the whole school community”.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the stabbing as a “horrific attack”.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, he said: “I’m sure my thoughts and those of the whole House are with the two children who were stabbed at Kingsbury High School in Brent and my heart goes out to everyone affected by this horrific attack.
“We thank the police for their swift response. It is now important that we give them space to continue their investigation.”
Police are at the school, especially at the start and end of the day and around transport hubs, to reassure the community and not because of an ongoing threat.
Det Ch Supt Luke Williams said he understood the incident was “very distressing” for the community. He said it was a “truly shocking” incident: “I think it was an unusual incident that led to the swift arrest of the suspect, which gives some reassurance.”
