Girl, 14, in court charged with stabbing teacher and pupils

A 14-year-old girl has appeared in court accused of trying to kill two pupils and a teacher in a knife attack at a high school.

The girl, who cannot be named because of her age, is charged with three counts of attempted murder and two counts of possessing a bladed article on a school premises in Manchester on 9 June.

The child victims, aged 14, and the male teacher, 27, have since been discharged from hospital and did not suffer severe injuries in the attack at the Co-op Academy on Plant Hill Road, Blackley.

Judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb told the defendant that the short preliminary hearing, at the Old Bailey in London, was to timetable the case.

The alleged attack is being investigated by Counter Terrorism Police but has not been declared a terrorist incident.

The girl was remanded into custody and told to attend a plea and trial preparation hearing at the same court on 23 October.

Cheema-Grubb told the girl: "In the meantime, I am sure you will understand it is in your best interest to co-operate with your lawyers."

Greater Manchester Police previously said a girl had suffered injuries to her shoulder, a boy had an injury to the ear, while the teacher was stabbed in the neck.

Co-op Academy said at the time: "We are incredibly proud of the swift actions of our staff and the mature response of our pupils."

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