Wales school stabbing: Staff and pupils praised by chief constable

Staff and pupils at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman have been praised by a chief constable for their response after a stabbing that left three people in hospital.

Teachers Fiona Elias, Liz Hopkin and a pupil were injured at the school on Wednesday.

A 13-year-old girl appeared at Llanelli Magistrates' Court on Friday charged with three counts of attempted murder.

Dyfed-Powys Police Chief Constable Richard Lewis dubbed staff, pupils, and others "impressive".

Mr Lewis wrote in a letter that the people's immediate response at the school, in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, was "deserving of significant praise".

He said: "Some pupils and staff were more immediately involved than others, and I'm sure there will be an appropriate time in the future to officially recognise the role they played in bringing the incident to a close.

"My praise also extends to the families of pupils and staff who attend the school and the calm and measured way that they patiently waited for news following the incident.

"The response was a real 'whole community' effort in the best traditions of west Wales."

Yesterday Ms Elias and Ms Hopkin spoke for the first time since the attack, saying it was hard to comprehend what had happened.

Ms Elias said: "From the bottom of my heart, my family and I would like to say a huge thank you for all the messages we have received from far and wide over the past few days."

Ms Hopkin said she was "deeply indebted" to the emergency services.

"I have been overwhelmed by the kindness from the close community," she added.

The teenage girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was remanded to youth detention accommodation when she appeared in court on Friday.

She will next appear at Swansea Crown Court on 24 May.

Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy arrested on Wednesday after police received reports about messages on social media referring to the stabbings has been released on bail.