A boy of 13 launched a stabbing rampage in a school on Tuesday, leaving two children fighting for their lives in a suspected terror attack.

In the middle of a classroom just before lunch, a teenager pulled out a knife and stabbed a 13-year-old boy in the neck and back while shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’, witnesses said.

Seconds later, a second boy aged 12 was knifed in front of screaming children at Kingsbury High School in Brent, north-west London.

Armed police raced to the school, but the knifeman had fled. A suspect, who has not been named, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after being found hiding nearby around an hour later.

Sources said he was not a pupil at Kingsbury High, raising questions about how he managed to get into the school building with a concealed weapon.

On Tuesday, the two wounded boys were in a life-threatening condition in hospital. Scotland Yard said counter terrorism police were leading the investigation amid suspicions it was an ideologically motivated attack.

Police have yet to formally declare that the stabbings were a terrorist attack as officers were still carrying out searches related to the suspect on Tuesday night.

Many of the youngsters who witnessed the stabbing spree were held in the school hall for several hours while police carried out inquiries.

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A boy of 13 is accused of launching into a stabbing rampage in a north-west London school on Tuesday, leaving two children fighting for their lives in a suspected terror attack

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In the middle of a classroom just before lunch, a teenager pulled out a knife and stabbed a 13-year-old boy in the neck and back while shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’, witnesses said

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The attack unfolded at Kingsbury High School on Bacon Lane in Brent at around 12.40pm, police said

The father of one pupil said: ‘He [the attacker] came into the school and my son saw him stab a child in the neck.

‘Two boys were on the floor and the other children thought they were just playing. But then they didn’t get up. It’s awful.’

A woman said her sister was in the classroom next door when the attack started.

She said: ‘They heard screaming and crying. Our parents are travelling and they saw it on the news and were so worried.

‘My brother was really scared to go back to school. How can you after a stabbing?’

A father of another pupil added: ‘My child is traumatised.’

Maeve O’Callaghan-Harrington, who lives locally, said she heard children sobbing as they left school with their parents.

She said: ‘I walked outside and heard one boy saying, ‘Mummy, Mummy, it was in his neck’.’

Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said police were ‘keeping an open mind as to any motivation behind the attack’.

He added: ‘The suspect, who we believe to be 13, left the scene following the stabbing. After urgent inquiries, our officers arrested him and also recovered a weapon which we believe to have been used in the stabbing.

‘The suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody for questioning by our officers.’

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Scotland Yard said counter terrorism police were leading the investigation amid suspicions it was an ideologically motivated attack (Pictured: Tuesday evening’s Met Police press conference)

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Police have yet to formally declare that the stabbings were a terrorist attack as officers were still carrying out searches related to the suspect on Tuesday night

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Counter terror police probe double stabbing at school that left two boys hurt: Teen arrested 

Kingsbury headteacher Alex Thomas said: ‘This has been a deeply traumatic event for the whole school community.

‘We are working closely with the authorities.’

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said her thoughts and prayers were with the two victims and their families, adding: ‘The police have arrested the suspect, and I would like to thank them for their rapid work in doing so. We must now give them the space to pursue their investigation.’

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson added: ‘I am heartbroken to hear about the stabbings at a school in Brent.’

The leader of Brent Council, Muhammed Butt, said it was ‘horrifying’ to think that a youngster had carried out a knife attack in a school, adding: ‘No parent should ever have to fear for their child’s safety at school.’

Kingsbury High School is an academy with 1,997 pupils aged 11 to 18. It was previously known as the Kingsbury County School, whose alumni included George Michael, jazz musician Courtney Pine and Floyd Steadman, the first black captain of the Saracens rugby team.

London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan urged anyone with information about the attack to come forward, adding: ‘My thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community in Brent following the appalling stabbings.

‘This awful violence has absolutely no place in our city.

‘A suspect has been arrested and I am in close contact with the Met as they investigate this terrible incident. The investigation is in its early stages and it’s right the police are investigating every possible element.’

MET POLICE STATEMENT IN FULL

Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said in a press conference on Tuesday evening: ‘Officers were called to Bacon Lane at around 12:40hrs following a report that a 13-year-old boy had been stabbed. Armed and local officers were on the scene within 13 minutes of the 999 call.

‘On arrival, we were made aware that a 12-year-old boy had also been stabbed and both boys have been taken to hospital.

‘We await an update on how they are, though we understand their conditions to be serious. The thoughts of everyone at the Met are with them and their loved ones, and we want to thank the doctors and nurses who are providing the boys with urgent care.

‘The suspect – who we believe to be 13 – left the scene following the stabbing.

‘After urgent enquiries our officers arrested him and also recovered a weapon which we believe to have been used in the stabbing.

‘The suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody for questioning by our officers.

‘This is a fast-moving and developing investigation, but we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to this incident.

‘At this very early stage, we are keeping an open mind as to any motivation behind this attack. However, due to the surrounding circumstances, the investigation is now being led by officers from Counter Terrorism Policing London, who are working closely with our local officers in response to this incident.

‘This has not currently been declared a terrorist incident and the investigation team will now be working at pace to gather any evidence and to establish the full circumstances of what has happened as quickly as possible.

‘I absolutely recognise that this incident will cause considerable concern – especially among our local community, students and parents of the school.

‘I hope the news that we’ve arrested and detained the suspect will provide some reassurance, but our officers will remain in the area to offer support and answer any questions.

‘We’d encourage anyone with concerns or further information to speak to them.’