A 16-year-old pupil has died following a stabbing at an Aberdeen school this afternoon.
Police and ambulance crews were called to Cults Academy following a “serious incident” at 1.30pm, with several eye witnesses reporting the incident as a stabbing.
A fifth year pupil, named locally as Bailey Gwynne, was rushed to hospital but could not be saved.
One pupil described seeing a “trail of blood” on the floor, and initially thought someone had suffered a nosebleed before noticing the police cars arriving at the door.
As news of the incident broke, scores of parents rushed to the school where the found the building in lockdown, surrounded by police.
Police immediately launched a murder enquiry and have detained another 16-year-old pupil, while teams of specially-trained detectives have been interviewing witnesses, believed to be both pupils and teachers at the school.
Chief Inspector Graeme Mackie said: “This is a shocking and extraordinary incident for Aberdeen and firstly our thoughts are with the family and friends of the boy who has sadly lost his life today.
“A full and thorough enquiry is under way has been launched and there will be a police presence in the area for the foreseeable future.
“We are working closely with the education authorities and wider community as I am sure this incident will be felt not only in Aberdeen but much further afield.”
Hundreds of tributes have been paid to the youngster on social media, while Cults Academy headteacher, Anna Muirhead, said: “Pupils and staff are in a state of total shock. The boy involved was a very gentle, caring pupil with a lot of friends.
“I think it’s fair to say the whole school community is totally devastated, but at the moment of course our thoughts are with the boy’s family and friends for what they must be going through at this tragic time.”
Heartbroken pupils have also left floral tributes outside the school and Gayle Gorman of Aberdeen City Council, said: “On behalf of Aberdeen City Council, we extend our condolences to the family and friends of the young man involved.
“In order to support the police investigation, the school will be closed tomorrow and Friday, and we will be offering every support to our pupils, their families and our staff.”
Nicola Sturgeon also offered her condolences, the First Minister tweeted: “All my thoughts are with the family and friends of the young man who has tragically died at Cults Academy today.”
Cults Academy will be closed tomorrow and Friday, while school officials have also confirmed that all pupils will be offered counselling.
The doors of Cults Parish Church have been open tonight, with dozens of people visiting the church to pray for those involved and reflect on the day.
Parish minister Rev Ewen Gilchrist, part of the school’s chaplaincy team, said: “As word crept out from the school about what had happened I think it’s fair to say there’s a sense of disbelief.
“We know that bad things happen in this crazy world but we always think of them happening somewhere else.
“This time it’s stampeded into our little corner and tonight our thoughts and our prayers are with Bailey’s family, a household that must be utterly devastated and bewildered by what’s happened, and also with the staff at the school, the teachers and the pupils themselves who were there when this terrible incident happened.
“I did not know Bailey personally, people I’ve spoken to have spoken very kindly of him, very well of him.
“There will be many, many households affected by this tragedy, we can only offer whatever quiet love and support we can.”
