A teacher who was injured during a knife attack at a Manchester secondary school has been praised for protecting students after intervening when violence broke out in the classroom.Maysum Abdullah, 27, is a teacher at Co-op Academy Manchester, who was hailed as a hero for intervening to protect pupils during a knife attack at the school.
He suffered injuries to his neck and hand during the incident in Blakely on Tuesday and is recovering at home after receiving treatment in hospital.A 14-year-old girl has been charged with three counts of attempted murder and two counts of possession of a sharp object on school premises. She is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday.Two other 14-year-old students were also injured in the attack but have since been released from hospital.
Police said neither of them suffered serious injuries.Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Abdullah said he and his wife are recovering and are still trying to come to terms with what happened.His wife, Saima, described him as a “hero” for intervening to protect the children during the attack. The family received a devastating call informing them that he had been taken to hospital after being stabbed, she said in a TikTok post.
She said his injuries were not life-threatening, but noted that the emotional impact of the accident will remain long after the physical wounds have healed.“My husband got into teaching to make a positive difference in the lives of young people, and he is truly a champion for safeguarding and protecting these children,” she wrote.Saima also expressed her support for the injured pupils and others affected by the incident, saying her thoughts were with the students and staff who witnessed the attack.North West counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation due to the circumstances surrounding the case, although authorities have not classified the incident as an act of terrorism.Police said the teenage suspect was initially detained under the Mental Health Act before being released into police custody following an assessment by healthcare professionals.Detective Chief Superintendent Jonathan Chadwick, head of counter-terrorism policing for the North West, described the charges as extremely serious, and said officers were continuing to support the victims, their families and the wider school community.He said: “Although charges have now been secured, our investigations remain ongoing, and we continue to work with our local police colleagues in the Blakeley area.”
