A heroic teacher was stabbed while protecting pupils during a triple knifing at a secondary school in Blackley. Greater Manchester Police confirmed on Thursday evening that counter-terrorism officers have taken over the investigation, though it has not been declared a terrorist incident 'at this time'.
Teacher's Brave Actions
Courageous Maysum Abdullah, 27, sustained a wound to his neck during the terrifying incident at Co-op Academy Manchester on Plant Hill Road on Tuesday morning. He stepped in to shield pupils as the school was placed into lockdown following reports of a student armed with a knife. The child was swiftly 'detained' by staff, school bosses confirmed.
Injuries Sustained
Three individuals were injured. A 14-year-old girl sustained wounds to her shoulder; a 14-year-old boy injuries to his ear; and Mr Abdullah injuries to his neck and hand. All are now recuperating at home. None of their injuries were considered to be serious.
Suspect Arrested
A 14-year-old schoolgirl was arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault, before being sectioned under the Mental Health Act. She has since been released into police custody following an assessment by health professionals.
School's Response
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Co-Op Academies Trust, which operates the school, said it was 'incredibly proud' of the 'swift' and 'brave' actions of their staff to 'quickly detain' the student. On Thursday, GMP announced that 'as a result of further enquiries, Counter Terrorism Policing North West have now taken primacy for the investigation with the support of Greater Manchester Police'.
Investigation Update
'Searches relating to the investigation remain ongoing and counter terrorism detectives are keeping an open mind to the motivation of the attack,' a statement added. 'At this time, it has not been declared as a terrorist incident.' The officer leading the investigation disclosed that 'further information has come to light', which the force has 'made Counter Terrorism Policing North West aware of'.
Teacher's Statement
Mr Abdullah, speaking to the Manchester Evening News while recovering at home with his wife, said he was still 'trying to process' what had occurred and requested privacy. He consented to having his name published, along with a photograph. His wife Saima had earlier taken to TikTok to express her gratitude for the public's support following the incident.
She said: '[On Tuesday] I received the devastating news that my husband had been stabbed whilst trying to protect pupils from a serious knife attack in his classroom. No one ever expects to receive a phone call telling them that their loved one has been taken to the hospital after being stabbed. I am grateful that his injuries were not life threatening. The wound on his neck and his hand have been treated, however these physical wounds are only part of what our family is now facing. My husband entered teaching to make a positive difference in young people's lives and he is truly a hero for protecting and safeguarding those children. Our prayers are with the other two pupils who also suffered injuries and to all the students and staff who witnessed such a traumatic event. Thank you to all colleagues, family, friends, hospital staff, the police and members of the community for their support, kindness and wishes during this difficult time.'
Police Comment
Chief Superintendent David Meeney, Commander for Manchester, said: 'Our local detectives have been investigating this incident at pace ever since we arrested a schoolgirl suspect on Tuesday morning. She remains in custody in Manchester. This has included ensuring the suspect is checked by health professionals to make an assessment while under the Mental Health Act, and to explore all available evidence to understand why this incident took place. Since our last update, further information has come to light that we have made Counter Terrorism Policing North West aware of. I know this update will only continue to make our local community concerned by Tuesday's events. There is no information to indicate any further threat, and our local officers continue to be in the area. We are here to listen and to act, so please speak to our officers with any concerns.'
School's Full Statement
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Co-op Academies Trust, which operates the school, said: 'Shortly after the start of the school day, an incident occurred on site involving a pupil with a knife. The school was immediately placed into lockdown, and staff acted bravely to quickly detain a student before emergency services arrived. Greater Manchester Police arrested the student, who remains in custody. Police have confirmed this was an isolated incident with no wider threat to the public. Three people, two pupils and a member of staff sustained injuries. They were taken to hospital as a precautionary measure, where they are in a stable condition with injuries not believed to be serious. We are incredibly proud of the swift actions of our staff and the mature response of our pupils. While our policies outline strict screening and search powers in line with Department for Education guidance, weapons can unfortunately be small and easily concealed without prior indicators. We had no reason to conduct a search on any student this morning.'
