A day of terror unfolded at Thorpe St Andrew School in Laundry Lane when the site was put into lockdown at 10.20am following the incident.

Armed police quickly swarmed the campus, hunting for the suspect who is believed to have fled the premises by jumping over the fence.

Police at Thorpe St Andrew School (Image: Denise Bradley)

A 15-year-old boy, believed to be a pupil at the school, was arrested about an hour later in Pound Lane - which runs next to the school - on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and he was taken to Wymondham Investigation Centre for questioning.

The boy was arrested about an hour later (Image: Newsquest)

The arrest of the 15-year-old boy pictured here (Image: Newsquest)

Panicked parents rushed to the school and waited anxiously at its gates and near police cordons for hours for news of their children inside the building.

The victim, believed to be in Year 10, suffered minor injuries.

Letizia Brister, 16, said the bell began ringing and did not stop for more than two hours while she and her classmates hid behind barricaded doors.

An armed officer standing at the door of one classroom inside the school (Image: Supplied)

She said: "I was really worried. We shut the door and locked it and pushed a table against the door.

"We had no idea what was going on but we felt safe and our teachers knew what they were doing.

"It was really scary. You do not come to school and expect someone to be stabbed."

Letizia Brister pictured here with her father, Leon Brister (Image: Newsquest)

Another student in Year 7 said: "We’re all really confused, we didn't know what was going on.

"Then our teacher Miss Jeffries pushed a cabinet in front of a door so no one could get in and we all got really scared, we didn't know what had happened." 

'WHY DIDN'T THEY LET ANYONE KNOW?'

Meanwhile, anxious parents gathered on either end of Laundry Lane, where police had put cordons in place, desperate to be reunited with their children.

Many of them were angry at the lack of communication from the school, with some even saying they had heard about the incident through Facebook and social media group chats.

Parents waited anxiously to hear about their children at Thorpe St Andrew School. (Image: Denise Bradley)

Darren Evans, whose daughter is in Year 8, said: "The last time I heard from her was an hour ago.

Parent Darren Evans at the police cordon after a stabbing at Thorpe St Andrew School (Image: Denise Bradley)

"If it wasn't for Facebook and the news, I would have had no idea what was going on. It's the not knowing that's really stressful. I've got no qualms with the school but it's these situations when it really matters."

Nicole Heathcote, 51, said: "Why didn't they let anyone know, we had to find out on Facebook. My kids have been scared and told to get under the tables."

Shortly before 1pm, Ed Arbuthnot, a police inspector, informed parents their children would soon be released from gates on the other side of the school to avoid the Year 11 entrance, where a cordon remained until later in the afternoon.

Inspector Ed Arbuthnot talks to parents at the police cordon after a stabbing at Thorpe St Andrew School (Image: Denise Bradley)

Mum Sophia Sabol described her relief when the children were released from the high school.

She said: "We found out through a group chat about what had happened. We’re now just going to wrap them up in cuddles and love for the afternoon."

Leon Brister, Letizia's 35-year-old father, said: "This is massive for Norwich. The communication from the police and the school was dreadful but Letizia said the protocol in the school was great and she felt safe, which is the main thing. It just didn’t come out to the parents."

Police at Thorpe St Andrew School. (Image: Denise Bradley)

'THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE'

Ian Mackie, Norfolk County Councillor for Thorpe St Andrew has condemned the act.

He said: "Our first thoughts are very much with the girl and her family, the whole community is shocked and will want to join me in sending our best wishes for her recovery from this traumatic experience.

"It is frightening to think this has knocked on our door. This is totally unacceptable. I hope the full force of the law will be used to bring justice and act as a deterrent.

"I would like to thank the police and school for their swift action. As a community we stand ready to offer whatever help we can."

Police at Thorpe St Andrew School after a stabbing (Image: Denise Bradley)

Thorpe St Andrew School is a mixed secondary school and sixth form which has students aged 11 to 18.

It was rated Good in its last Ofsted inspection in 2025.

The school was recently rocked by allegations of antisemitic chanting during a football match against a Jewish school.

Police said the stabbing on Wednesday was not believed to be linked to this incident.

A spokesman for Broad Horizons Education Trust, which runs Thorpe St Andrew School, said: "We have clear procedures in place and our staff acted swiftly, with the whole school going into lockdown with children staying in their classroom with their teacher.

"This has obviously been a distressing experience for our whole community and our focus now is on making sure all students feel supported as we begin to understand what happened."

Police at Thorpe St Andrew School. (Image: Denise Bradley)

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