Boys stable after double stabbing at school

Two boys who were stabbed at a school in north-west London are in a stable condition in hospital, the Metropolitan Police has said.

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

Officers are continuing to question a 13-year-old boy who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, as counter terrorism officers lead the investigation.

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

Speaking in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the stabbing as an "appalling attack" and said his thoughts were with the two children, and all of those affected.

"We thank the police for their rapid response. It's important now that we give them the space to pursue their investigation," he added.

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.

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

BBC London understands the suspect was wearing school uniform.

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

Det Ch Sup Helen Flanagan, of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said officers were conducting a "fast-paced investigation" and were continuing to make inquiries into the circumstances.

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.

"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.

'They're children'

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".

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."

She added: "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.

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

In 2023, Sir Sadiq said metal wand detectors would be available for schools in order to help protect pupils from knife crime.

On Wednesday, Minister for School Standards, Georgia Gould, told BBC Breakfast installing mandatory knife arches - a walk‑through metal detector - was not something the government was looking into.

"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.