A 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder following a tragic stabbing incident at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield. The incident took place on January 29, around 12:17 GMT, leaving the school community in shock and mourning. The victim, also a 15-year-old boy, succumbed to his injuries after being stabbed, prompting an immediate lockdown of the school.
The school, which was last inspected by Ofsted in October 2023 and rated as Good overall, prides itself on its strong ethos of warmth and respect. However, the recent incident has caused panic among students and parents, leading to the school's closure on Tuesday as authorities work to piece together the events surrounding the tragedy. The police are striving to build a comprehensive picture of what happened but have yet to release further details.
"This morning a teenage boy went to school like thousands of others across South Yorkshire but won't come home; a young man who was a member of our community, with his whole life ahead of him," said South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, expressing his grief and extending support to the police and school community.
The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has conveyed her condolences to the bereaved family and the school community, emphasizing the shared sorrow felt across the region. Local MP Louise Haigh described the news as "horrific," echoing the sentiments of many who are struggling to comprehend the senseless act of violence.
"My heart goes out to his family, friends and the entire school community at this very distressing time," stated Education Minister Catherine McKinnell.
The school's head teacher, Sean Pender, expressed "shock and sorrow" over the incident. The tragic event has reignited concerns about knife crime in the area—a problem highlighted by Amaan Ahmed, manager of the Castle Asian Community Trust.
Assistant Chief Constable Lindsey Butterfield noted that the police are unable to release any information at this time due to factors "which could be distressing to them [the family] and detrimental to our investigation." The authorities have urged patience and cooperation from the public as they navigate through these challenging circumstances.
