Teacher stabbed to death at Leeds school

A female teacher has been stabbed to death in front of pupils inside a school in Leeds.

The 61-year-old victim, who the BBC understands was Spanish teacher Anne Maguire, was taken to hospital but later pronounced dead.

A 15-year-old boy was detained by teaching staff and later arrested.

Police said there was "no ongoing risk to pupils or staff". Downing Street said the prime minister's thoughts were with the victim's family.

Two pupils at the scene told the BBC that children were seen screaming and running from a classroom following the attack.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said Mrs Maguire received a number of stab wounds and a knife was recovered from the scene.

The 15-year-old pupil was detained by other members of teaching staff and arrested in connection with the stabbing, he added.

No-one else was injured in the attack and no other student or member of staff was threatened, the spokesman said.

He said the attack was an "unprecedented event" and schools in Leeds were "generally very safe places" to work and study.

Staff members were "in shock" and Mrs Maguire's death would "understandably have a massive impact" on her family and the school, he added.

The BBC's education correspondent Sean Coughlan said the incident would bring back memories of Philip Lawrence, a head teacher who was killed outside a school in Maida Vale, London, in 1995.

Mr Lawrence was murdered when he went to help a pupil who was being attacked.

The call to police in Leeds came from the ambulance service shortly before 12:00 BST.

The college has 950 pupils and according to its website it retains "traditional values", describing these as "a strong Christian ethos, a broad and varied curriculum, good teaching and learning, excellent discipline and outstanding pastoral care".

The BBC's Danny Savage said the school was on a large estate to the east of the city, well known to residents.

"It's regarded as a good school in what in the past could be regarded as a problematic area overall," he said.
Death 'devastating'

Tom Riordan, chief executive of Leeds City Council, said: "We are aware of the serious incident at Corpus Christi Catholic College this morning and our thoughts are with all those concerned."

He added: "We are working with the school to support pupils and staff at this very upsetting time."