by It was just after 11.15am at Glen Aman School in Athmanagh, Carmarthenshire, when the public address system announced “Code Red”.
The 1,800 pupils at the co-educational school, also known as Dyffryn Aman School, were on their morning break at the time and it was initially thought that the school’s emergency protocol was either a drill or a playground scuffle.
But as the children were locked up and dozens of police cars and two air ambulances arrived at the scene, it was clear that something much more serious had happened.
One teenage student explained how he immediately ran and climbed the school fence when he heard the school was going into lockdown.
He said: “It was at the end of the morning break when I heard Code Red being called over the speakers. I had never heard one but I knew what it meant.
“You’re supposed to run to a classroom but I was closer to the school fence and I and a few other boys jumped him.”
A Year 9 girl allegedly produced a butterfly knife and used it to stab a fellow student in the stomach and test two female members of staff.
While one teacher was stabbed, the other was cut across the neck so badly that his lanyard was severed.
As the horror unfolded in front of dozens of youngsters, a Year 11 teacher intervened, jumping towards the attacker and trying to disarm her.
One of the two women injured was understood to be assistant leader Fiona Elias.
As armed police stormed the school grounds, panic quickly spread throughout the close-knit community.
The school, rated Good by Ofsted, is in the heart of the former coal mining town, and former pupils include Welsh rugby stars Shane Williams and Lucy Packer.
Within minutes, reports on social media suggested a student had gone knife-wielding on the ramp, prompting terrified parents desperate for information to come to the school.
Paramedics, who arrived at the scene in four ambulances, gave emergency care to the most injured teacher, before taking her to the air ambulance.
She was then transferred to hospital in Cardiff, where her condition was later described as non-life threatening.
‘It was terrible’
Grandmother Maria Davies, 50, who saw the result afterwards, said: “She didn’t look very well – she was surrounded by medics.”
A male student said: “It was horrible, there was blood all over the ground but I wasn’t worried.
“The two teachers were badly injured but one was stabbed in the neck. She is one of the best teachers here, everyone likes her.”
Armed officers arrested a teenage girl on suspicion of attempted murder and took her away for questioning, and a knife was recovered from the scene.
But as the investigation began and the forensic officers arrived, the pupils remained locked with their parents at the gates, unsure of what was going on.
Dyfed-Powys Police issued a statement in an attempt to reassure them, saying an arrest had been made and they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the stabbings.
But some were angry about the lack of information and not being allowed to see their children.
One person said: “It’s a shame not knowing what happened. We heard that there were stabbings and the school so we came here as fast as we could.”
A footage of the alleged incident posted online has sparked widespread concern among many parents.
Finally at 3.30pm, nearly 2,000 students were allowed to leave the school grounds.
Many were hugged by their emotional parents as they left the school gates, but there were still concerns for the welfare of those injured.
Just after 6pm, Superintendent Ross Evans read a statement at the scene confirming that none of the three had life-threatening injuries.
He said: “Dyfed-Powys Police are continuing to investigate the serious incident which took place at Glen Amman School in Carmarthenshire this morning.
“We received a call just after 11.20am informing us that people had been injured following an incident at the school.
“Emergency services attended immediately, and the school was locked down for the safety of everyone on the premises.
“Two teachers and a teenage student were taken to hospital with stab wounds. Their injuries are not life threatening.
“A teenage girl has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and is currently in police custody. A knife was found as evidence.
“Local people will see more police in the area over the coming days as the investigation continues.”
He added: “We are working with the school and other agencies to ensure that appropriate support is available to all those involved.
“This was an extremely distressing incident, and our thoughts are with the victims, their families and everyone affected by what happened.”
