A primary school class was evacuated after a pupil began making stabbing motions with a plastic knife, it was revealed today.
Police were called to the incident last month, which involved a 10-year-old boy, at a school in Angus.
It is understood the pupil had been moved to the school, which cannot be named for legal reasons, because of disruptive behaviour elsewhere.
One parent told a local newspaper that officers had taken over an hour and a half to turn up.
The concerned parent, who contacted the paper anonymously, said: “An entire classroom of the school was evacuated for their safety, police were called but after 90 minutes failed to appear.
“The school alarm, which is connected to the police control centre, was then activated, and the police responded to that.
“The boy had entered a classroom and although not threatening anyone in particular, he was making stabbing motions with a plastic knife, causing fear to the class.”
Alarmed teachers contacted police, with one source saying they feared there could be a “serious injury”.
A police spokesman confirmed details, saying they were called out “following an incident”.
The child was reported to the Youth Justice Assessor for alleged assault and possession of a plastic knife.
The school was visited by Angus Council’s Head of Children and Young People Services, Tim Armstrong, in the aftermath of the incident, and staff were allegedly offered “soothing” doughnuts.
A source said staff had feared “a serious injury”.
The source added: “Some days later, Mr Armstrong appeared at the school with a tray of doughnuts for the staff.
“In light of the death by stabbing of an Aberdeen pupil and the lack of positive action by education and social work and health for Angus, this does not bode well and we are sure that doughnuts are not the answer.”
A police spokeswoman for Tayside Division said: “Police Scotland can confirm that a report has been sent to the Youth Justice Assessor following an incident involving a 10-year-old boy at a primary school on May 19.”
The subject of knives in schools re-entered the spotlight with the fatal stabbing of Bailey Gwynne, 16, in a row over a biscuit at Cults Academy in Aberdeen last year.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said at the time: “The Scottish Government will, in the fullness of time, make sure that any lessons that require to be learned from this incident are learned.
“While I do give the assurance that we will continue to take all steps to ensure, as far as any government possibly can, the safety of young people in our schools, it is worth also remembering that violent incidents — incidents of young people possessing knives and other dangerous weapons — are on the decline.”