A teenage girl has admitted stabbing two teachers and a pupil at a school in south-west Wales in April, but has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, at Swansea crown court.
On 24 April, police were called to Amman Valley school, also known as Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, in Carmarthenshire after the incident that resulted in three people – two teachers and a teenage pupil – being taken to hospital with stab wounds. Teachers Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin, and a pupil, have since been discharged from hospital.
The accused, 14, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces seven charges in total, including three of attempted murder, three for wounding with intent, and one of possession of a bladed article.
The girl appeared in court on Monday, speaking only to confirm her name and enter her pleas. Denying the three counts of attempted murder, she pleaded guilty to the charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The court heard the attack was captured on CCTV.
The teenager looked at the ground as Judge Thomas KC said she would stand trial for the three counts of attempted murder from 30 September, with a pretrial review on 17 September.
Pupils at Amman Valley school went into lockdown after the incident, which was described by police as “very distressing”.
Pupils at the bilingual comprehensive school, which has a capacity of 2,000 pupils, were released at 3.20pm, where they were hugged by tearful parents who had gathered to wait for them.
The then prime minister, Rishi Sunak, said said he was shocked at the news, as was the then first minister of Wales, Vaughan Gething.
“A deeply worrying time for the school, families and community. Diolch [thank you] to first responders,” Gething said on X.
