Headteacher says school is ‘completely devastated’ after ‘wonderful’ boy pupil, 15, was ‘pinned down’ and stabbed to death outside gates as parents collected their children

• The attack took place just before 3pm near North Huddersfield Trust School
• Police were called to the school, which is in Fartown, a suburb of Huddersfield
• One parent said the child had been ‘pinned to the floor and stabbed repeatedly’
• The 15-year-old was airlifted to hospital but was sadly pronounced dead later
• West Yorkshire Police has launched a murder investigation after the incident 

The head teacher of a 15-year-old boy killed after being ‘pinned down and repeatedly stabbed’ near his West Yorkshire school is ‘completely devastated’

The teenager was attacked in Woodhouse Hill at 3pm yesterday, and was a pupil at North Huddersfield Trust School.

Emergency services rushed to the area and the boy was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary, but he was sadly pronounced dead shortly afterwards. 

West Yorkshire Police has described the killing as an ‘absolutely senseless loss of a young life’ and has stepped up patrols in the area of tonight.

Headteacher Andrew Fell said in a statement: ‘It is with enormous sadness that I must tell you that following an incident on Woodhouse Hill Road yesterday one of our pupils has tragically lost their life.

‘The pupil was taken by ambulance to hospital after the incident but despite the most valiant of efforts, medical staff were unable to save their life.

‘This is truly shocking news for our pupils, your children and our staff. We will be providing specialist support for any among our community who feel they could benefit.’

The statement said the school will not open until 10.30am today and then only to students who need support.

The unnamed teen was allegedly ‘pinned down’ in Woodhouse Hill, near the gates of North Huddersfield Trust School, at around 3pm yesterday. (Pictured: Huge police response near scene of incident) 

A PCSO stands at the scene of the stabbing in Fartown, in Huddersfield, yesterday afternoon

Mr Fell said: ‘West Yorkshire Police have launched an urgent investigation, so it would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this time.

‘I would urge everyone not to engage in speculation about possible causes or perpetrators and allow the police to make their inquiries. A statement has been released.

‘Our deepest sympathies go out to the pupil’s family and friends who must feel, as we do, completely devastated. They have lost a loved one and we have lost a wonderful student from our school community.’

The force’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team (HMET) is investigating the incident and remains on the scene tonight as forensics and specialists conduct searches.

Police were called to the incident, which took place in the Fartown area of Huddersfield, at 2.54pm.

A father, aged 46, who has a son at the school told Yorkshire Live: ‘It was a scary moment when I heard there had been trouble and a teacher answered my 14-year-old son’s phone. I understand he may have witnessed some of what happened.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance had blocked off the roads surrounding the incident (pictured), while parents say they are deeply concerned

‘I was asked by staff to come and collect him. I’ve heard that it all came out of nowhere. This pupil was grabbed, pinned to the floor and stabbed repeatedly.’

Yorkshire Air Ambulance had blocked off the roads surrounding the incident, while parents said they were deeply concerned. 

Another father, whose daughter is at the school, said something ‘needs to be done’ about the rise in crime in the area, adding: ‘My daughter just started there and was getting on bus home. Lad in black hat and snood jumped out on a pupil and stabbed him and ran off.

‘She saw the scuffle but didn’t see the knife or blood. The bus had just pulled up as it happened so blocked some of the incident – she seems OK but still processing it I think. It’s only her third week or so at this new school.’

He added that the area was starting to ‘feel like a crime drama.’  

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: ‘At 2.54pm this afternoon police received a third-party report that a teenager had been seriously injured in an assault in Woodhouse Hill, Huddersfield.

Pictures taken earlier today showed at least half a dozen police cars responding to the incident.

Tonight West Yorkshire Police confirmed the teenager who was stabbed had sadly died and it had launched a murder investigation. 

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Marc Bowes said: ‘Our investigation is still at a very early stage, and we will be carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident that has resulted in the absolutely senseless loss of a young life.

‘We recognise that an incident of this nature will cause understandable shock and concern in the community, and we are working closely alongside our colleagues at Kirklees District who are increasing their presence in the area to reassure people and keep them updated as our investigation progresses.

‘We have already identified a number of witnesses to the incident itself but would still like to hear from anyone who has any information that could assist the investigation.’

Anyone with information is asked to contact HMET detectives via 101 or online at https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101LiveChat quoting crime reference 13220521713.

Source: Read Full Article