School in South Wales locked down after pupil receives threatening messages

26 April 2024, 11:49 | Updated: 26 April 2024, 14:35

A school in South Wales was locked down after a teenage pupil allegedly received threatening messages.

Gwent Police said Ebbw Fawr Learning Community in Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, was placed into lockdown at around 10.20am on Friday.

The force confirmed police officers attended the school in Wales, where they remained to provide reassurance.

Police said a boy has been arrested over the alleged threats - which did not take place at the school or the surrounding area.

A spokeswoman for the force added: "We have arrested a teenage boy on suspicion of making threats.

"The arrest did not take place on school premises and was not in the Ebbw Vale area. Our inquiries are ongoing."

Parents were told about the incident via text messages from the school that caters for children aged three to 16.

One of the texts, posted on social media, read: "All students are safe in classrooms and all doors and access points are locked."

It continued: "The police have arrived and there is no risk inside the building."

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Another message sent to parents said the school is in "partial lockdown" and all doors were locked with no one allowed in or out.

One boy hid under a desk while they waited to find out what was going on, according to Wales Online.

The incident comes after two teachers and a pupil sustained stab wounds at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, on Wednesday.

The 13-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Llanelli Magistrates' Court today.

She was charged with three counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article on a school premises.

(c) Sky News 2024: School in South Wales locked down after pupil receives threatening messages