Police arriving at the scene (Image: MEN)
Armed police stormed a school in Manchester this afternoon after a man allegedly “pulled out a knife”.
Concerned parents were left “terrified” at Lily Lane Primary School in Moston when it was placed on ‘lockdown’ at around 3pm on Wednesday (January 22) and they were met by armed officers at the locked gates.
Crowds gathered outside the gates for around 45 minutes, talking to staff through the gates, before children were allowed to leave.
Reports suggest a confrontation occurred with a parent in the playground before a man allegedly brandished the blade on the playground, reports .
:
A distressed mum said: “My partner had gone to pick my daughter up from school and he was gone for ages. He came back saying they wouldn’t let her or the students out and that the police were there.”
Upon arriving herself, she was confronted with a harrowing scene: “I got there and there were armed police and everything. The gates were locked, the school was on lockdown and they weren’t letting anyone in or out.
“There were hundreds of parents all waiting outside and we were all locked out. I was panicking and asking what was going on, and that I wanted my daughter. I was screaming that my child was locked in, and they just kept telling us all the children were safe.”
Another mum, who was locked outside the front gates, added: “When I arrived all the gates were locked and there were teachers all over the playground.
“Loads of police turned up and there were armed officers in reception. I was terrified, especially not having any proper information from the school.”
A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted assault. Investigations are ongoing.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “Officers were called to reports of a man with a knife at a primary school on Kenyon Lane in Moston at around 3pm this afternoon.
“Armed officers quickly attended the school and as a precaution, the school was put into lockdown. Thankfully, no one was injured A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted assault. Enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.”