School in 'lockdown' and armed police called in after 'knifeman in playground'

-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


A primary school was forced into 'lockdown' amid reports a knife was pulled out in the playground. Armed police were called in after the alarm was raised at the school.

Parents who had turned up to collect their children were left 'terrified' as they spotted police in the area and the school gates locked. Teachers spoke to parents through the gates as parents nervously waited on the roadside for about 45 minutes.

Police confirmed they were responding to reports of a man with a knife on the school grounds. The school was put into lockdown as a precaution.

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One mum said she was 'panicking', while another was 'terrified' during the incident on Wednesday, January 22. It is understood the suspect attempted to stab an adult victim with the knife, Manchester Evening News reports.

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It is thought the blade was pulled out on a parent collecting their child after an 'altercation' in the school playground. The incident took place at Lilly Lane Primary School, in Moston, at about 3pm.

One mum said: "My partner had gone to pick my daughter up from school and he was gone for ages. He came back saying they wouldn't let her or the students out and that the police were there.

"I got there and there were armed police and everything. The gates were locked, the school was on lockdown and they weren't letting anyone in or out.

"There were hundreds of parents all waiting outside and we were all locked out. I was panicking and asking what was going on, and that I wanted my daughter. I was screaming that my child was locked in, and they just kept telling us all the children were safe."

Another mum, who was locked outside the front gates, said: "When I arrived all the gates were locked and there were teachers all over the playground. Loads of police turned up and there were armed officers in reception.

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"I was terrified, especially not having any proper information from the school." A 20-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of attempted assault and taken into custody.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: "Officers were called to reports of a man with a knife at a primary school on Kenyon Lane in Moston at around 3pm this afternoon. Armed officers quickly attended the school and as a precaution, the school was put into lockdown.

"Thankfully, no one was injured A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted assault. Enquiries into the incident remain ongoing."