A father of the 13-year-old girl charged with attempted murder over an alleged South Wales school knife attack reportedly says he now fears “reprisals”
The man said he found out that there had been an incident at Amman Valley School, Carmarthenshire, online and through a friend who called him who also had children there, claiming he was ignored when he tried to get information from staff. Pupils at Amman Valley School, also known as Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, in Carmarthenshire went into lockdown just after 11.20am on Wednesday after the stabbing at the end of morning break. Deputy head Fiona Elias and special needs teacher Liz Hopkins were reportedly the two teachers injured alongside a pupil, all of whom have since been released from hospital.
The 13-year-old, who cannot be named, charged with three counts of attempted murder, has been remanded to youth detention accommodation, during a hearing at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Friday. The teenager’s dad has told how it took hours for him to find out that his daughter was allegedly behind the knife attacks and he reportedly claims that both the school and police did not want to communicate with him.
Instead it was through social media and a friend who also has a child at the school that he heard about the situation. And he says he is also worried about “reprisals from the community” following the incident and claims he has not been given a police liaison officer. He told The Times: “I found out she was involved through social media, because people were naming her online. It's disgusting. I have found out more about what has happened through the news than I did from anyone else. The school didn't want to talk.”
The two members of staff injured in the attack have now issued statements. Ms Elias, an assistant headteacher at the school, said: “From the bottom of my heart, my family and I would like to say a huge thank you for all the messages we have received from far and wide over the past few days. I am deeply indebted to the police, ambulance service, and the NHS staff in Morriston for their excellent care and quick response. Many thanks also to the air ambulance for their excellent care of my colleague, Liz. This is another example of how vital this service is to us in Wales.
“Three of us were taken to hospital with injuries, but this incident has had an enormous impact on my colleagues and the wonderful pupils we have at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman. I cannot comprehend what staff and pupils experienced on Wednesday. I would like to thank all members of staff for prioritising the welfare and safety of pupils at the school for four hours, and the pupils for responding so maturely and sensibly in a situation that no one expects to happen.
“One of our school’s core values is ‘resilience’, and there is no doubt that pupils have demonstrated this value in coping with a situation they should never have experienced. The last few days have shown that there is no other community quite like the Ysgol Dyffryn Aman community, and we will be working to support each other in the coming days and weeks.
“Many thanks to the parents of the school for their co-operation and understanding at such a difficult time and of course to the wider community and external agencies who have been so willing to support the staff and pupils. I understand that there has been great interest in this incident, but for the benefit of my family, colleagues, and pupils, I now ask for privacy.” Ms Hopkin, who is an additional learning needs co-ordinator, added: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the support shown to me and my family since the incident on Wednesday.
“I am deeply indebted to all the emergency services for their quick response and for the care provided to me and others who were admitted to hospital. Ysgol Dyffryn Aman is a big part of my life, and it is hard to comprehend that this has happened. However, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our school community for all the support and kind messages that I have received. I have been overwhelmed by the kindness from the close community that we have here. I believe what we need now is time to reflect on what has happened and therefore ask for privacy for the school, myself and my family, so we can take this time to reflect and recover.”
The teenage girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was remanded to youth detention accommodation when she appeared in court on Friday. She will next appear at Swansea Crown Court on May 24. Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy who was arrested later last Wednesday after police received reports about messages on social media referring to the stabbings has been released on bail. Police executed a warrant at the boy’s home, in the nearby Cross Hands area, and recovered a BB gun.
Dyfed-Powys Police said the boy has been released with conditions preventing him from entering certain educational establishments, or the Amman and Gwendraeth Valley areas. Bail restrictions also include a curfew, and prevent him having unsupervised access to social media. The investigation into the allegations continues, and Dyfed-Powys Police is now appealing for anyone with information that could assist them, including screenshots from social media,” a police spokesman added.