Boy, 13, questioned over double school stabbing

Police are continuing to question a 13-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, as counter terrorism officers lead an investigation into the stabbing of two boys at a school in north-west London.

Officers were called to Kingsbury High School in Brent, at 12:40 GMT on Tuesday, to find a 13-year-old and and a 12-year-old had been attacked.

The two are believed to be in a serious condition, the Metropolitan Police said.

Det Ch Supt Luke Williams said due to "surrounding circumstances", the investigation was being led by counter terrorism officers, although it has not been declared a terrorist incident.

BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Daniel Sandford said it was understood that some had heard the attacker saying words like "Allahu Akbar" - or similar - meaning "God is greatest" in Arabic, during the incident.

The suspect is believed to have had previous connections to the school, but was not a current pupil, he added.

There are reports that people may have been sprayed with a substance, although it is not believed to have been noxious.

The suspect left the scene following the stabbing, but was later arrested and a weapon was recovered, police said.

During the police press conference on Tuesday, Williams said police were "keeping an open mind as to any motivation behind the attack".

"However, due to the surrounding circumstances, the investigation is now being led by officers from counter terrorism policing London, who are working closely with our local officers in response to this incident," he added.

Police are understood to be examining the suspect's devices and going through dozens of witness accounts.

Simon Theodorou, a parent of a child at the school, told the Telegraph the attacker "managed to get his way in by climbing over a wall".

He also claimed one of the victims "pulled the fire alarm to get help", praising the boy as "a hero".

The head teacher of the school, Alex Thomas, said the incident was "a deeply traumatic event for the whole school community", in a letter to parents and carers.

"I fully appreciate that this will be very upsetting news to hear and, as you can imagine, this has been a deeply traumatic event for the whole school community," he said.

"The situation is under control, but a live investigation is taking place. We are working closely with the authorities and I will provide further updates as soon as I am able to share confirmed information. Please keep the students and their families in your thoughts."

He added the Lower School would be closed on Wednesday and students should stay at home, but the Upper School would be open for students in Years 10-13.

Some pupils were seen leaving in tears on Tuesday evening after being spoken to by police.

The father of one pupil said children were obviously "traumatised by what happened in front of them".

Reporting from the scene on Wednesday morning, BBC Radio London journalist Gem O'Reilly said pupils arriving at the school said they felt nervous and distressed following the attacks.

Other pupils have said they were scared to walk to school.

Local man Moeen, a former pupil, told the BBC: "I feel very sad for them and their family...the age of 13 is just for playing...they're children".

He said local people had been left feeling "unsafe".

"I am very worried - they have to do something," he added.

'Parents' worst nightmare'

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said her thoughts and prayers were with the two children stabbed in the "shocking attack".

Dawn Butler, MP for Brent East, said: "The whole school community - the parents, the wider community - are deeply shocked by this.

"There has been a lot of support given to the school, obviously that will have to be ongoing."

"It's a parent's worst nightmare to think they are sending their child to school and something may well happen to them."

Brent Council leader Muhammed Butt thanked the emergency services and school staff for their "swift" response, adding: "Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been injured, their families and the whole school community."

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has urged anyone with information to contact the police, adding: "There is no honour in staying silent."

However on Wednesday, the government confirmed it was not considering installing mandatory metal detectors in schools.

Asked about knife arches - a walk‑through metal detector - Minister for School Standards, Georgia Gould, told BBC Breakfast it was not something the government was looking into at the moment.

"But we are taking action on knife violence and in a whole range of ways, in terms of training, in terms of investment, in terms of support for young people," she added.

Kingsbury High School is an academy school serving children aged 11 to 18, with both upper and lower sites.

Alumni include singer George Michael, jazz musician Courtney Pine, Floyd Steadman - the first black captain of the Saracens rugby team - and writer Ekow Eshun.