Tewkesbury School stabbing: Boy arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of teacher
A boy has been arrested on suspicion of the attempted murder of a teacher who was stabbed at a secondary school in Gloucestershire.
Armed officers detained the teenager an hour after the stabbing in Stoke Orchard, about five miles south of Tewkesbury, on Monday morning and recovered a knife.
The arrested boy is from Tewkesbury. Police have not given his name and he remains in custody.
A motivation for the attack remains unclear but it is not thought to be terror-related, police said.
The teacher, named locally as Jamie Sansom, was in a stable condition in hospital after being stabbed. Police confirmed on Monday evening he had been discharged.
Teacher Jamie Sansom has been discharged from hospital after being stabbed
Police were called just after 9am on Monday over a “threat to a teacher”, Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone told reporters.
“Minutes later we received a call from the ambulance service telling us that a male teacher had been stabbed in a corridor at the school,” he said.
No one else was injured.
People hugging by the school gates
Tewkesbury School, in Ashchurch Road, was put into lockdown following the incident and carefully searched to ensure there was no further danger.
Two other schools in the area were advised to close their doors.
The National Police Air Service were deployed to track the suspect down.
Initially, it was thought the suspect had “hidden himself within the school grounds”, Mr Ocone said.
“Our officers, including specialist armed police, attended and carried out a thorough search. This search was both complex and meticulous in nature as we sought to ensure there were no further injured parties as well as seeking the arrest of the suspect.”
Police will remain in the area in the coming days as the investigation continues, Mr Ocone said.
A crowd of about 100 people gathered outside the school after the stabbing and uniformed officers stood on duty at its entrances.
Sky News correspondent Dan Whitehead spoke to Sarah Penny whose daughter Issy was inside at the time.
“Mum, I’m really scared,” the 13-year-old messaged.
“They had guns, they had armed police.”
A spokesman for Tewkesbury School said “no decision has yet been made on when the school will reopen”.
He added: “We will be drawing up plans to support our students and staff in the wake of this incident.”
The school, a state secondary, “requires improvement”, according to an Ofsted report published in January.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s thoughts are with those affected, Downing Street said.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said she was “deeply concerned”, adding: “We are closely monitoring the situation and remain hugely grateful to the emergency services.
“My department is on hand to support the school.”
Assisted dying could become legal in England and Wales after the bill was backed by MPs in a historic vote.
Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill received 330 yes votes compared to 275 noes at its second reading in the House of Commons – a majority of 55.
Politics Live: MPs voting on historic assisted dying legislation
The bill would allow adults who are terminally ill with just six months left to live to request medical assistance to end their lives.
Today’s result means the legislation will now progress to the committee stage for scrutiny, with the Lords also to be given opportunities to express their views on the measure before it potentially becomes law.
MPs were given a free vote – meaning they could side with their conscience and not along party lines, with the government staying neutral on the matter.
The division list showed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer backed the proposal, as did Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
But other cabinet members like Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood voted against the bill, having previously warned about vulnerable people being coerced and of a “slippery slope of death on demand”.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
MPs debate assisted dying
The vote came after a five-hour debate in the chamber, which drew emotional arguments on both sides.
Conservative former minister Andrew Mitchell revealed he changed his mind on assisted dying after finding himself with “tears pouring down my face” on hearing the stories of constituents whose loved ones had died “in great pain and great indignity”.
On the other side of the argument, veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott said assisted dying could result in sick people “feeling like a burden” on society, adding: ” I can imagine myself saying that in particular circumstances.”
She warned: “If this bill passes, we will have the NHS as a fully-funded 100% suicide service but palliative care will only be funded at 30% at best.”
Bill about ‘choice and dignity’
Opening the debate on the topic, Labour backbencher Ms Leadbeater said the bill was about giving dying people “choice, autonomy, and dignity” – saying the current law was “failing” them.
Kim Leadbeater: PA
Read More:
Two people reveal contrasting views on assisted dying
Five stories that bring the assisted dying debate home
She has insisted her bill contains “the most robust safeguards” of any assisted dying legislation in the word.
This includes two independent doctors having to approve the decision, followed by a high-court judge, with the person having to administer the drugs themselves.
The legislation also includes a maximum 14-year prison sentence for anyone who coerces someone into requesting assisted dying or taking the medicine.
Speaking to Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby after the vote, an emotional Ms Leadbeater said she was “incredibly proud” of the result and parliament must now “take on board everything that’s been discussed in the chamber”, including the state of palliative care and the rights of disabled people.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
UK
Heidi Alexander named new transport secretary after Louise Haigh’s resignation over mobile phone guilty plea
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports8 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway