Two schools in lockdown after teen stabbed as cops swoop to arrest boy, 15
TWO schools were put in "lockdown" after a teenage boy was stabbed yesterday.
A 15-year-old was arrested after cops rushed to reports of a "serious assault" on Collingsway near the West Park Academy primary school in Darlington.
Durham Constabulary confirmed a stabbing had taken place at around 12.45pm on Monday afternoon, with police saying the two were known to each other.
The victim, a teenage boy, was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, suffering from stab wounds.
His injuries were serious but non-life-threatening and he remains in hospital in a stable condition.
As the drama unfolded a police helicopter was seen overhead while worried parents were told two schools had been put into lockdown.
Traffic was stopped on the A1 motorway Northbound and Southbound while police carried out vehicle searches.
A huge search operation was launched, which appeared to focus on the Merrybent Community Woodland, The Northern Echo reported.
Councillors for Brinkburn and Faverdale announced Wyvern Academy, a nearby co-educational secondary school with academy status, had also been put into lockdown.
They told the public: "Please be aware of necessary Police activity and stay safe."
A parent of a pupil at West Park Academy shared the message sent to all parents at the school.
It read: "We have been notified by the police that there is a serious ongoing incident in West Park.
"We are currently in lockdown and all children are safe. We will not allow any children to leave the school without an adult (not an older sibling) Please pick up as normal with an adult. Top gate is locked."
The parent continued: "My wife went to pick up my daughter an all afternoon a police helicopter had been circling at about 200 feet very slowly."
The Wyvern Academy later released a statement explaining that the incident had taken place in the surrounding area but had no connection to the school.
"Thank you to all our families who acted promptly and calmly to the request of collection of pupils at the end of school," it read.
Durham Police said in a statement: "Police were alerted to reports of a serious assault on Collingsway, in Darlington at approximately 12.45pm this afternoon (June 21).
"Colleagues from the ambulance service reported a stabbing incident and officers attended the scene.
"The victim, a male in his mid-teens was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, suffering from stab wounds.
"A suspect has been identified and a police operation is underway to make an arrest.
"It is believed the suspect and victim are known to each other."
They later announced that: "A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with this incident and is currently helping police with their enquires."
A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson explained: "We were called at 12.29 to an incident on Collingsway, Darlington.
"We dispatched a specialist paramedic, a double crewed ambulance and requested support from the Great North Air Ambulance. One patient was taken to hospital."
Superintendent Neal Bickford, from Durham Constabulary, said: “We believe this to be an isolated incident, with the suspect and victim both known to each other, and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with it.
“The incident resulted in a large police presence within the west area of Darlington for much of yesterday afternoon, and I would like to thank the public for their patience, understanding and cooperation while we brought the incident to a safe conclusion.
“We would also like to reassure the local community that the incident was unrelated to any schools in the nearby area.
“A team of officers are currently working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. If you have any information that could assist their investigation, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.”
Anyone with any information should call Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident number 132 of June 21.
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The Sun Online has approached the school for comment.