A quiet morning at a Melbourne primary school turned to terror when an 11-year-old student entered a classroom armed with a kitchen knife and toy gun, leaving a younger student and staff member injured in a shocking incident that has rocked the local community.
Chaotic Morning at Brentwood Park Primary
The disturbing events unfolded around 9am on Thursday at Brentwood Park Primary School in Berwick, located in Melbourne's southeast. According to police reports, the 11-year-old boy walked into a first-grade classroom allegedly carrying both a kitchen knife and a toy gun.
What followed was a frightening altercation that resulted in injuries to an eight-year-old boy and a female staff member. Both victims received treatment for what authorities described as non-life threatening injuries, providing some relief amid the terrifying situation.
Lockdown Sparks Fear and Confusion
In response to the emergency, both Brentwood Park Primary School and an adjoining college were immediately placed into lockdown. The sudden security measure left students and teachers confused and frightened, with many initially unaware of the serious nature of the situation.
"We had a sudden lockdown without any warnings and everyone got scared," student Manha Mir told 7NEWS, capturing the atmosphere of panic that swept through the school. "The teacher thought it was just a drill but we continued with our class."
The lockdown procedure, while necessary for safety, added to the trauma of the day as children and educators sheltered in place while police secured the scene.
Parental Anger Over Communication
While the school did send an email to parents assuring them that all students and staff were safe, the communication strategy drew sharp criticism from some families who claimed they received no notification about the serious incident.
"We didn't get notified at all. It's the downplaying of it," one angry parent expressed. "It's not a kid jumping on a roof or, you know, swinging a chair around. This is someone being stabbed."
Another parent described the moment they learned about the situation: "I was just confused and just not sure what to do... Everything went black for me for a second and then all the messages and phones started ringing."
Aftermath and Ongoing Investigation
Following the traumatic incident, the 11-year-old boy was spoken to by police and subsequently taken to hospital for assessment. The education department confirmed they are providing support to the injured pair and anyone else affected by the disturbing events.
Despite the morning's trauma, both schools resumed classes after the situation was contained. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to understand the circumstances that led to the alarming incident.
The Brentwood Park Primary School stabbing has raised serious questions about school safety protocols and how educational institutions handle emergency communications with parents during critical incidents.
