Caroline Willgoose, the mother of 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose who was stabbed to death at school, has expressed her horror after two students and a member of staff were knifed in an attack at a school in Manchester. The incident occurred on Tuesday at the Co-op Academy in Blackley, Manchester. Two 14-year-old pupils and a 27-year-old school worker were injured, and a 14-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of section 18 assault. Greater Manchester Police have stated they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
Mother's Reaction
Caroline Willgoose, 51, said the attack proves that knife crime 'is a pandemic'. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, she said: 'How many times do students or teachers need to get injured before action is taken? The last thing I thought I would be doing was speaking about knife crime, as everyone thinks it is a gang-related thing. But Harvey's and today's again proves it isn't - it is a pandemic.'
Harvey's Tragic Death
Harvey Willgoose was fatally stabbed by his former friend Mohammed Umar Khan in the courtyard of All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield on February 3, 2025. He lost consciousness and died within a minute. Khan was detained for life with a minimum term of 16 years after being found guilty of murder. Since then, Caroline has been campaigning for metal detector arches to be installed in schools to prevent further attacks.
Campaign for Safety
Caroline urged parents to ask their children about knives in schools, saying: 'They should have gone into all schools as soon as what happened to Harvey. I urge parents to ask their children if they have seen or heard of someone having a knife while in school, and I am sure they will be surprised by what they have to say.' She added that reading about school stabbings 'opens up old wounds' and expressed sympathy for pupils and teachers who feel unsafe.
Call for Government Action
Caroline called on the government and school bodies to take immediate action to ensure safety. She said: 'It doesn't surprise me anymore to read about attacks in schools, if anything, I expect it now. When are the government and school bodies going to listen? The government needs to step in now and take control of the situation. How sad is it that the pupil who killed Harvey is suffering in prison, I think he should be, but it is tragic. Children and teachers need to be shown the bigger picture and take it seriously.'
Police Response
Chief Inspector Jon Shilvock commented on the Manchester attack: 'We understand that this incident will have caused concern to pupils, staff and the wider school community. The incident was swiftly and quickly dealt with by staff before officers attended to arrest the girl. There is believed to be no wider threat at this time and we thank everyone for their support as emergency services dealt with this. We are not looking for anyone further in connection with this incident. Officers will remain at the school and within the area to provide a visible presence and community reassurance.'
