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School reassures parents after pupil-linked stabbing

Shariqua AhmedCambridgeshire
News imageKirsty Knight A police van with blue and yellow livery on a grass field. The vehicle has police tape tied to its right wing mirror, and the tape then runs across the ground from the left to right of the picture. There is a row of mature trees at the far edge of the field.Kirsty Knight
Cambridgeshire Police maintained a presence of officers in the area on Tuesday

A secondary school in Peterborough has reassured parents after a 14-year-old was stabbed on nearby playing fields.

The boy was taken to Peterborough City Hospital with serious injuries after the incident in Bushfield, near Ormiston Bushfield Academy in Orton Goldhay, at about 16:00 BST on Monday.

A 14-year-old boy from Peterborough has been charged with grievous bodily harm (GBH), possession of a knife and theft. A second 14-year-old boy, also from the city, was arrested on suspicion of GBH and assisting an offender.

In a letter to parents, the school said the incident involved "a small group of students from the academy" and it was "treating it extremely seriously".

The second arrested boy has been released on police bail until 14 December.

News imageGoogle The exterior of a school. There is tall, wire fencing around a car park on the left, with white buildings beyond it. A brick building is on the right, with an access road between it and the car park.Google
Ormiston Bushfield Academy said it was taking the stabbing "extremely seriously"

Principal Dennis Kirwan wrote: "I wanted to write to you directly to provide some clarification and reassurance.

"We understand this incident was witnessed by a small number of our wider community and appreciate it may raise concerns.

"Please be assured that we are treating this extremely seriously and that as soon as we became aware of the matter, we took immediate action in line with our safeguarding processes and procedures."

News imageKirsty Knight wearing a grey T-shirt and a black cardigan. She is standing in front of the crime scene. There is blue-and-white police tape in the background.
Kirsty Knight said the local community had been "shaken once again"

The stabbing is the second serious knife-related incident in the area in less than six months after a fatal stabbing near the Ortongate Shopping Centre.

Kirsty Knight, Conservative councillor for Orton Waterville, described the latest incident as "terrifying", and said concerned parents had contacted her.

"Only five months ago, our community was devastated by the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Baye Bireme Fall.

"Residents were only just beginning to recover from that tragedy, and now our community has been shaken once again.

"No child should ever feel that carrying a knife makes them safer. As a mum, that absolutely terrifies me."

A spokesperson for the school told the BBC: "The safety and wellbeing of our entire school community is always our top priority.

"We are also working with the authorities and providing support to any students, staff and families, as appropriate."

An 18-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy are due to stand trial in October accused of murdering Baye Bireme.

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