A GUNMAN who opened fire at a college sparking a huge armed police response told students to “run for your lives”, according to a terrified pupil.
The hooded shooter started "ranting" before allegedly pointing the gun at a tutor - with his terrifying rampage only being brought to an end when a hero teacher tackled him to the ground.
Armed police were scrambled to the college after two teachers were injured following the frightening incident at 3pm yesterday.
One brave teacher was stabbed in the hand by the attacker as he charged and knocked him down.
Students said the man was armed with a handgun and firing blank rounds in the grounds of the college before he was flattened by the heroic tutor.
Witnesses said up to six more courageous tutors then jumped on the gunman before police arrived and detained him.
What we know so far:
Crawley College remains closed today and students and staff are being offered counselling following the shocking attack.
Elise Stellebotte, 17, said she and fellow students fled their classroom after hearing shots being fired.
She said: “I heard several shots being fired really quickly and everyone dived out of the classroom. I saw the gunman.
“He was wearing a black Puma hoodie and a mask. I was only a few yards away and I could see he had this pistol in his hand and was waving it around.
“I don't think he was very old but he was difficult to see behind the mask and hoodie.
“He pointed the pistol at my tutor and fired but they were just blanks thank God. He was so shocked.
“He continued ranting and shouting telling people to 'Run, run'. He was trying to scare people, deliberately. Everyone was pretty scared.”
He continued ranting and shouting telling people to 'Run, run'. He was trying to scare people, deliberately. Everyone was pretty scared.”
Student Elise Stellebotte
Another student, Eddie, 18, added: “It was absolutely terrifying. I heard shots ringing out and they were unmistakably gunshots. I saw the guy.
“He was screaming at people telling them: 'Run for your lives, run, run!' and jumping around all over the place then he fired some shots.”
Meanwhile, a social media user claiming to be the sibling of one of the two teachers who wrestled the suspect to the ground said they were proud of what he had done.
The anonymous person posted on a local community page and said their brother is now recovering at home.
They posted: “One of the teachers was my brother. Luckily he is absolutely fine and is home now.
"Very minor injuries to his hand and wrist. His colleague has the same minor hand injuries.
Very proud of him though. Not sure many people would have done the same!"
Victim's sibling
"There's a lot of speculation so I thought I'd let you know.
“Very proud of him though. Not sure many people would have done the same!"
Cops have arrested an 18-year-old man and seized a firearm and a knife. Nobody was shot.
Neighbours living next to the alleged shooter's £300,000 home in Crawley last night claimed he's a student at the college.
There were rumours last night that the man being held had previously been suspended from the college.
Officers said they were working with counter terrorism colleagues and “all lines of enquiry are open at this stage”.
But last night, it was confirmed that the incident is not being treated as terror-related.
Panicked and weeping students were placed under lockdown inside the grounds after the shocking incident.
A second student, posting on Snapchat, said a tutor tackled the gunman to the ground, adding: “The guy managed to slice his hand open."
A parent of one pupil at the college told The Sun: “Pupils were running into other classrooms while they were in lessons in terror saying to others, ‘have you seen what happened?’
“A teacher rugby-tackled the gunman. It’s absolutely horrifying."
Dozens of armed cops stormed the site and searched classrooms, while a helicopter was seen flying overhead two hours after the 3.10pm attack.
Counter terror officers from Gatwick Airport were the first on the scene.
Video of the moment the alleged attacker was apprehended was posted on Snapchat with the caption: "Crawley on a mad one today."
It shows one man - reportedly the wounded teacher - pinning a second to the ground.
A number of others, who witnesses claim are also teachers, can then be seen rushing to help detain the man.
One parent said students were told to "duck on the floor" during the frightening incident.
Police say neither of the casualties suffered a gunshot injury.
One teacher said: “Parents of students at the college are being contacted now. It's unbelievable."
Pupils were running into other classrooms while they were in lessons in terror saying to others, 'have you seen what happened?'"
Parent
Some students could be seen crying as they were picked up by their parents.
One mum, who wanted to remain anonymous, said of her teenage son: "He saw the whole thing. But he's too upset and terrified to talk about it."
Around 60 marked and unmarked police cars lined the road outside the college with their blue lights flashing.
A man living next door to the alleged gunman's home said: "He goes to the college.
"He’s a really nice guy - I have no idea why he’s done this. Maybe he was having trouble at college.
"I saw him last night out walking his dog and he seemed happy. It’s shocking."
A Crawley College spokesman said: "We appreciate what a traumatic experience it must have been for all who were involved at Crawley in both the incident itself and the subsequent lockdown.
"We would like to thank to everyone for their support and resilience during the course of yesterday afternoon and evening - including the Police and emergency services.
"We will be offering counselling services to our students and staff."
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