Terror at Sheffield secondary school: Students 'hid under tables' as teenage boy, 17, 'attacked another child and staff members with a broken bottle'

Terrified children made tearful phone calls and sent text messages to their parents as they lay on the floor and hid under tables when their school went into lockdown after a teenager attacked a pupil and two adults. 

It is understood a broken bottle was used as a weapon in the attack.  

Birley Academy, in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, is understood to have implemented its lockdown procedure when the incident took place at 8.50am today, soon after the start of lessons at 8.30am.

Following the incident, a 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and taken into police custody. 

One parent said: 'I heard from my daughter. She was under the table crying. It wasn't nice – it was a bit overwhelming.'

Another said he received a text from his son telling him the school had gone into lockdown. It read: 'There was an alarm, the headteacher ran out and told us to get back inside, then we were on the floor. 

'I don't want to be here right now.'

A 'scrum' of mothers and fathers were waiting outside the gates to collect their children when pupils were sent home at 11am. The school has not yet announced whether it will open for the rest of the week.

One mother who gathered at the school gates earlier today said her daughter had heard an alarm go off around the time when the attack took place.

And she had got a text from her just after 9am saying the girl had been 'locked in' her classrooms while police swooped on the school and arrested the suspect.

The mum said: 'She said it was really calm. They were in their rooms. The alarm went off and they were locked in their classrooms.

'There's rumours but I actually don't know what happened.

'The school have been good, they've been really communicative. It sounds like they reacted really quickly.'

All three victims of the assault were given treatment at the scene for minor injuries sustained in the attack.  

Sheffield city councillors Bryan Lodge, Denise Fox and Karen McGowan, who represent the Birley area, said: 'We're shocked to hear that this incident has happened and we hope that everyone is OK. Our thoughts are with everyone that's involved.

'We hope that people will be reassured to know that this was an isolated incident.'

Following the incident the school was sent into lockdown. 

An email sent to parents by head teacher Vicky Hall read: 'There has been an incident in school this morning. 

'I want to reassure you that all staff and students are safe and well. Emergency services attended immediately and are in attendance. 

'Please do not attend school at the moment.' 

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said she was 'disturbed' to hear about the incident at The Birley Academy.

Sheffield Councillor for Birley, Denise Fox, has told of her shock at hearing that a teenager has been arrested for attempted murder at Birley School.

She said said: 'It has always been regarded as a good school locally, and a good, safe school.

'My thoughts are with the people at the school I'm gobsmacked. This will have come as a complete shock to everyone. People must be in a terrible state over this.

'Something has gone wrong and now we need to investigate what.'

In a statement, South Yorkshire Police said: 'Officers are at the scene after responding to reports of an incident involving a sharp object at the school on Birley Lane at around 8.50am.

'Two adults were checked over at the scene after suffering minor injuries.

'A child was also checked over after being assaulted.

'A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in police custody.'