Lincolnshire schoolgirl, 16, held on suspicion of attempted murder after welfare worker stabbed

A 16-year-old schoolgirl has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a welfare officer at her school was stabbed.

Police said a 61-year-old woman was being treated in hospital after an incident at Winterton Community Academy near Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, at around 9am on Monday.

Her injuries are serious but not life-threatening, officers said.

Chief Superintendent Christine Wilson, of Humberside Police, said she had not seen the weapon involved, but the school’s headteacher had said it was a small kitchen knife.

She said the school was open but parents had been given the option of taking
their children home, which many had done.

The officer said: "It happened in an office in the school, so all of the rest of the children were completely safe. They were all in their separate classrooms.

"And it is, obviously, a very rare and isolated incident.

"I can’t think of another incident that’s happened like this in my time as a police officer.

"We want to reassure parents that their children were safe at all times."

Ms Wilson said it was "highly likely" the knife had been brought into the school but she could not be sure. She said she did not know the exact injuries the woman has sustained.

The school’s headteacher Gareth Morris said: "We are keen to reassure parents and the community that this is an isolated incident and that the school remains open.

"We will support our staff directly affected and will be keeping parents updated throughout the day."

(c) Sky News 2017: Lincolnshire schoolgirl, 16, held on suspicion of attempted murder after welfare worker stabbed