A 13-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder after two pupils were stabbed at Kingsbury High School in Brent, north-west London, on Tuesday. The teenager appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday, accused of stabbing a 12-year-old in the neck in a classroom and a 13-year-old in the playground.
The court heard that the defendant, a former pupil, entered a classroom carrying ant spray and a kitchen knife shortly after midday. He allegedly sprayed ant spray in a child's face before stabbing the first victim, who sustained three stab wounds, a spinal fracture, and injuries to the neck and hands requiring surgery. Less than a minute later, he stabbed another child in the neck in the playground, leaving a 3cm wound.
The defendant filmed the entire attack on his mobile phone, but there is no evidence it was uploaded to social media. He was at large for about three hours before being arrested near a mosque. The conditions of the two alleged stab victims are not life-threatening, but it is uncertain if their injuries are life-changing.
The teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, faces two counts of attempted murder, one count of administering a noxious substance, and possession of a knife on school premises. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring remanded him to a youth detention facility to appear at the Old Bailey on 27 February.
Temporary Commander Helen Flanagan of Counter-Terrorism Policing London said: 'These are extremely serious charges against a young boy and we continue to support the victims and their families, as well as the wider school community.' The Crown Prosecution Service reminded the public that proceedings are active and urged against any reporting that could prejudice a fair trial.
