A man has been arrested on suspicion of breaching a court order and criminal damage after allegedly entering the grounds of St Marks R C Primary School in Swinton, Salford, with a brick, reportedly causing alarm to staff and pupils.
The incident occurred around 10am on Friday, June 19, when police were called to the school on Queensway following reports of a 'concern for welfare'. Officers discovered that a man had trespassed onto the school grounds carrying a brick, leading to distress among staff and students. Images from the scene showed a damaged window at the school, though no children or staff were injured, according to Greater Manchester Police.
Arrest and Medical Episode
The man, aged 36, was 'potentially experiencing a medical episode', police said. He was taken to hospital after officers 'gained control of him'. He was later arrested on suspicion of violating a court order and criminal damage. Photographs captured the moment he was detained on nearby Rake Lane, with several officers surrounding him on the ground outside a house.
School Response
St Marks R C Primary School remained closed for the remainder of the day following the incident. The school went into lockdown, and parents were asked to collect their children. Multiple police cars and a crime scene investigation van were seen outside the school in the afternoon.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson stated: 'Emergency services were called to reports of a concern for welfare on Queensway in Swinton at around 10am this morning. A man - who was potentially suffering a medical episode - entered the school grounds with a brick, causing alarm to school staff and pupils and damaging a window. Officers arrived on scene quickly and gained control of the man, who was taken by ambulance staff to hospital. No harm was caused to any of the school staff or the pupils, and the school has made the decision to close for the day and send children home.'
A Salford council spokesperson added: 'We are aware of the incident that took place at St Mark's Primary School in Swinton on Friday morning. We are working with colleagues from GMP and NW Ambulance Service, as well as supporting the staff at the school. As always, the safety and wellbeing of pupils, staff and the wider school community is the key priority.'
