Five pupils and one teacher injured in mass stabbing at Portuguese school as police arrest ’12-year-old suspect’
Police have detained a 12-year-old suspect after at least five pupils and one teacher have been injured in a mass stabbing at a school in Portugal.
It is not immediately clear what provoked the attack in the town of Azambuja – located 31 miles northeast of Lisbon.
One girl has been taken to a hospital in a serious condition, a duty police officer has said.
The other victims are not thought to have suffered life-threatening injuries.
Azambuja Mayor Silvino Lucio told CNN Portugal: “He entered (the school) after lunch and started stabbing everyone he saw.”
It has been reported that the schoolgirl rushed to Santa Maria Hospital in a serious condition suffered chest and head injuries.
Others have injuries to their arms and stomach.
An internal note suggests the situation was an isolated case.
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Officials have reportedly said the school will reopen as normal on Wednesday.
Lucio added: “There was no target, no objective.
“As the victims appeared, they were attacked.”
The young suspect was initially restrained in a classroom.
The 12-year-old remains in custody, according to Portuguese police.
The National Republican Guard said: “The young man is calm.”
Emergency services received an alert at 2.33pm this afternoon.