Teen left disturbing messages before attack at Welsh school

A 14-year-old girl has been found guilty of attempted murder after a brutal knife attack at Amman Valley School in Wales, where she stabbed two teachers and a fellow pupil. The shocking incident, which took place in April last year, has raised serious concerns about school safety and mental health intervention.

A Chilling Warning Ignored?

Before the attack, the girl, then 13, had scrawled disturbing messages in a notebook, expressing a desire to commit violence. Phrases such as “crime of a lifetime” and “why do I want to kill others as much as I want to kill myself?” were later revealed in court.

Despite being caught with a knife in her bag in September 2023 and subsequently excluded, her father successfully appealed for her readmission under the condition that he checked her bag daily. However, she managed to smuggle in a multi-tool concealed in her trousers.

A Horrific Scene Caught on CCTV

On the day of the attack, CCTV captured the moment the girl lunged at teachers Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin before stabbing a female pupil. The school immediately went into lockdown as emergency services responded to the terrifying assault.

During the trial, the teenager claimed she was relentlessly bullied, describing the torment as happening “three or four times a week.” Her father, defending her actions, accused the school of failing to intervene, stating, “If you don’t stop the bullying, something is going to go bad.” He admitted he had not checked her bag that morning because she had left home before he woke up.

Guilty Verdict – Sentencing in April

Despite pleading guilty to wounding with intent and carrying a bladed article, the girl denied attempted murder. However, jurors rejected her defence, and she was convicted of the more serious charge. She is set to be sentenced in April.

The case has reignited debates over how schools handle bullying, the effectiveness of exclusion policies, and the need for stricter security measures to prevent future tragedies