A Year 9 girl accused of trying to stab a teacher to death ‘has gotten into trouble in class before’, a classmate told MailOnline today.
Ysgol Duffryn Aman Secondary School was closed yesterday after a schoolgirl allegedly “went crazy” with a knife in the playground, and three people were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The teenager, who is accused of stabbing another student before using the knife on two teachers, was taken away in handcuffs after being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Just hours after his arrest, his “protective” older brother was also arrested for allegedly “making threats with a BB gun.”
Today, Ysgol High School classmate Duffryn Aman told MailOnline the accused ‘had been in quite a bit of trouble before’.
The teenager who tried to stab a teacher to death “has been in trouble before in class”, a classmate has revealed. Pictured: Police outside the school where the attack took place yesterday
The schoolgirl who went ‘crazy’ with a knife at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman (pictured) is believed to be the sister of the teenager arrested for ‘making threats with a BB gun’.
The 15-year-old, who spoke with his mother’s permission, said: “She was suspended. She has an older brother who is at school and also got into trouble.
The Year 9 student lives in Ammanford with her older brother, who her friends say is very protective of her. It is unclear who the children are staying with.
It is understood that his parents met while living on the south coast. They are believed to have moved to south Wales before the suspect and his brother, as the father’s parents live in the area.
The couple reportedly separated after living at several different addresses. The girl’s mother worked at a greeting card store.
She described her daughter as a “naughty little girl” alongside a photo of her wearing lipstick and nail polish.
The mother has now returned to the south coast and works in a food factory.
It is understood the girl’s father began a relationship with a woman from the Ammanford area after they broke up. But that relationship also ended.
Officers intervened to arrest the teenager’s supposed brother.at their family home in Ammanford, south-west Wales, overnight by the same police investigating the stabbing at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman.
Dyfed-Powys Police refused to confirm the relationship between the two youngsters, but residents of Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, confirmed they were brother and sister.
Superintendent Ross Evans, Carmarthenshire Commander, said today: “We would like to thank the many members of the public who have raised concerns about messages they have seen online.
Police and worried parents wait at the gates of Ysgol Dyffryn Aman School, also known as Amman Valley School, after multiple stabbings.
One parent said: “It’s a quiet area and a nice school with a good community. We just can’t understand what happened.
“This allowed us to act quickly to execute a warrant and arrest a suspect.
“While this investigation is being conducted separately from our inquiries into the major incident at Ysgol Dyffryn Amman yesterday, our officers will seek to establish both the credibility of the threats and whether there was a link between the alleged offenses.
“Again, I urge people not to speculate, not to share any images or videos relating to either investigation and to allow us to fully complete our investigations.”
“If you or your children are upset by these events, please seek help from an appropriate agency.”
Residents remain on high alert after police rushed to Ysgol Dyffryn Aman Secondary School in Ammanford yesterday after a Year 9 student “went berserk” with a knife in the playground.
She is believed to have stabbed another student before using the knife on two female teachers. She was taken away in handcuffs after being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The two injured teachers have been named as year seven principal Fiona Elias and special education teacher Liz Hopkin. Darrel Campbell, rugby teacher intervened to subdue the alleged attacker until the police arrived.
Students hid in toilets and cupboards while school was closed for four hours and have now been asked to stay at home while police investigate the horrific attack.
School principal James Durbridge praised staff and students for their “calm and mature” response.
Writing on the school website, Mr Durbridge said: “Today has been a very difficult day. Needless to say, my thoughts are with the three people and their families who have been affected by today’s incident.
“We are proud to have seen students embody the school’s core values while supporting their peers and staff.
“I would like to congratulate all staff and students for their calm and mature response during today’s lockdown.”
An aerial view of the scene after the stabbing attack at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman (Aman Valley School)
He added that the school’s 1,500 pupils could benefit from “wellbeing support” if they were affected by what they saw in the playground.
Armed with a knife, the teenager is said to have targeted the teacher, named locally as Liz Hopkin, before the head of year 11, Mr Campbell, a former rugby player, overpowered the girl and held her until ‘when the police arrived.
A colleague then courageously intervened to disarm the schoolgirl, forcing her to drop her weapon.
A schoolgirl witness said: “Everyone was running and there were shouts that the girl was going crazy with a knife. Mr Campbell arrived at the scene, put an arm lock on him and removed the knife from him.
Mr Campbell “doesn’t consider himself a hero”, his brother said today.
Cefin Campbell, Senedd MP for Mid and West Wales, said: “He is embarrassed by all the attention he has received – he certainly does not consider himself a hero.
“He simply told me that he did what most people would do: he acted instinctively, he saw the danger and acted.”
“He really wants to downplay anything other than just being a normal citizen, even though he’s a teacher in a school facing a very difficult situation.”
Darrel Campbell, who has been with the school for about 40 years, officially retired last year, but was brought back part-time to help with pastoral care.
He and his brother attended the school as pupils.
Cefin Campbell said he expected his brother to return to work when school reopened.
He added: “The school is closed today so he is going away but he fully intends to return as soon as the school reopens.
Teacher Darrel Campbell (pictured, left) allegedly intervened to snatch the butterfly knife from the teenager.
Liz Hopkin, who works as a special education teacher, was injured in Wednesday’s incident but was released from hospital today.
It was also revealed that drama and Welsh teacher Fiona Elias was among three people needing treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
“He wants to be there, with the other staff, to support each other and the students in their care.
“He has taken this role very seriously throughout his life and he will return to it to make sure students are in a good place.”
The politician said Darrel Campbell was “shaken by the whole experience, as were all the staff, students, parents, etc.”
He went on to say: “I think it’s a feeling of shock because he’s been there 40 years as a teacher – he’s never seen anything like this.”
“I think people understand that this should happen in a place like this.”
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