A 14-year-old girl has been formally charged with three counts of attempted murder following a knife attack at a school in Manchester earlier this week. The incident, which took place at Co-op Academy in the Blackley area on Tuesday morning, resulted in injuries to two fellow pupils and a member of staff.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the teenager also faces two additional charges relating to the possession of a bladed article on school premises. She is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Friday to face these charges.
The attack, which occurred around 08:30 BST, saw a 14-year-old boy, a 14-year-old girl, and a 27-year-old male teacher sustain stab wounds. Fortunately, all three individuals have since been discharged from hospital, having not suffered any serious long-term injuries. The school was immediately placed under lockdown following the incident, with a spokesperson for Co-op Academy commending the swift actions of staff and the mature response of pupils.
Counter-terror officers from Counter Terrorism Policing North West are leading the ongoing investigation into the matter. Detective Chief Superintendent Jonathan Chadwick, head of the unit, stated that these are extremely serious charges against a young girl. He emphasised that while charges have been secured, the investigation continues, with support being extended to the victims, their families, and the wider school community who have been deeply affected.
It was also revealed that the 14-year-old suspect had initially been detained under the Mental Health Act before being released into police custody to face the criminal charges. Despite the involvement of counter-terror police, authorities have not yet declared the incident to be a terrorist act.