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Three teachers and student stabbed ‘by teenager on knife rampage’ at Spanish school

One teacher was ‘stabbed in the eye’ when a secondary school pupil allegedly pulled out a knife in class

Alex Ross
Thursday 28 September 2023 16:22 BST
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(Onda Cero Cádiz-Rota)

A teenager has stabbed three teachers and at least one pupil in a high school in southern Spain, police have said.

One of the teachers was stabbed in the eye during the attack in Jerez de la Frontera, southern Spain, on Thursday morning, according to local reports.

The other three victims suffered minor wounds, a source from Andalusia’s health services said.

Police and emergency services were called to the stabbing at the Elena García Armada Institute at around 8.25am.

A teenager allegedly took a knife from his rucksack shortly after arriving before attacking classmates, according to news outlet ABC Sevilla.

When a teacher intervened, she was stabbed in the eye, according to the reports, which add that another teacher who came to her aid was also injured.

A 14-year-old has been arrested over the stabbing and taken into police custody.

Police spokesman Adrian Dominguez told reporters: “Police located the suspect on the third floor. He had in his possession the two knives used to attack three teachers and two students.”

Speaking to Spanish news agency EFE, a pupil said: “He started to attack everyone, even the teacher. He almost caught my friend and hit another friend in the forearm. And my physics and chemistry teacher in the head.”

A pupil’s mother told Canal SUR television channel that the attacker had wielded two large knives from his backpack and attacked fellow pupils and teachers, telling them he would kill them.

The first teacher attacked is in a serious condition and was taken to Jerez de la Frontera University Hospital where they are expected to undergo surgery. The rest of those injured have also gone to the same hospital for treatment.

The secondary school was immediately evacuated following the incident. Pictures from outside the school show parents and students waiting for news from inside the campus.

Jerez de la Frontera mayor María José García Pelayo said: “It was devastating and dramatic because all the parents were on the outside of the school wishing they could hug their children.”

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