Armed police arrest schoolboy, 13, who was waving a knife in class

Armed police swooped on a city school and arrested a 13-year-old boy who was wielding a KNIFE in class.

Staff dialled 999 after the child produced the blade during a science lesson at the Marine Academy Plymouth in Devon.

Officers were given clearance to use a Taser gun to disarm the boy but the high-voltage weapon was not deployed.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has now been charged with possessing a bladed article on school premises.

Helen Mathieson, principal of Marine Academy Plymouth, said no one was injured during the incident.

“Even though the police have described this as a minor incident, we are taking it very seriously,” she said.

“I can give assurance that both staff and students acted quickly and sensibly and no one was hurt.

“The safety of students is our number one priority. All our safety practices are reviewed regularly and proved to be effective.”

Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police were called to the school at 11am on Tuesday.

A spokesperson said: “We received a report that a student was in a classroom who appeared to be holding a knife.

“A police unit was immediately deployed to the school. When police arrived staff had requested all other students leave the room around the time of the incident.

“No one has been injured during this incident.

“A 13-year-old boy was arrested by police for possession of a bladed article in a public place.”

One student, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “There was police out the front. They had to stop the class.

“The class where it all happened were sent home and it was all over Facebook and Twitter.”

The 13-year-old is due to appear before Plymouth Youth Court on April 5.