Boy, 15, knifed at school

A 15-year-old boy was airlifted to hospital with a kitchen knife embedded in his back after apparently being attacked by a fellow-pupil at school, police said yesterday. The attack took place in a corridor at Christ The King Roman Catholic High School in Preston, Lancashire. Police have arrested a boy, also aged 15, who is being questioned in Preston, and are interviewing other pupils to determine what happened. They are not looking for any other suspects.

The injured boy, who has not yet been named, was taken by helicopter to the Royal Preston Hospital, where doctors removed the knife before he was transferred by ambulance to Blackpool Victoria Hospital. His mother was last night at his bedside. His life was not believed to be in danger.

Detective Inspector Ian Ronald of Lancashire Police said the boy in custody was Asian and the victim was white, but he did not believe it was a racially motivated attack. "It seems this was a dispute between two 15-year-old boys. There is no indication it was racially motivated and no indication of bullying but it was very serious." The headmaster of Christ the King Roman Catholic High School, Gus Van Cauwelaert, said: "Although everyone is deeply shocked, staff and the pupils reacted magnificently. As the matter is subject to police inquiries I am unable to say any more at this stage."