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Student, 16, charged over stabbing at Sydney high school

A backpack and knives and scissors are seen at a shopping centre adjacent to Bonnyrigg high school.

A backpack and knives and scissors are seen at a shopping centre adjacent to Bonnyrigg high school. Photo: AAP

A 16-year-old student has been charged over the stabbing of a teacher and two other students at a high school in Sydney’s west on Thursday morning.

The student was arrested by police at a car park near Bonnyrigg High School, where police said the incident occurred at 8:45am.

Police allegedly seized two knives after searching the teen’s backpack.

A 48-year-old female teacher was stabbed in the back, and two Year 11 students, a 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl, were stabbed in the shoulder.

The woman and the boy were taken to Liverpool Hospital and the girl was taken to Westmead Hospital.

All three are in a stable condition and their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The alleged attacker was taken to Fairfield Police Station, where he was charged with causing wound with intent to murder and two counts of wounding a person to cause grievous bodily harm.

He was refused bail to appear at a children’s court on Friday.

Police said the incident was isolated and “not terrorism related”.

sydney high school stabbing

A knife is seen at a shopping centre adjacent to Bonnyrigg High School. Photo: AAP.

Incident a ‘one off’: police

Earlier in the day, Fairfield Local Area Commander Superintendent Peter Lennon said the student was not an “outstanding student, nor were there any other incidents that the principal knew the student had been involved in”.

Stabbing sydney high school

Police arrest the alleged offender, 16. Photo: ABC News.

“We’re in the process of speaking to witnesses and we have police at the hospital waiting to speak to the victims,” he added.

Superintendent Lennon said it was a “a one-off incident”.

“This is not terrorism related, this is a local issue at a local school.”

Superintendent Lennon said the attack happened as the teacher was opening a classroom.

“The classroom is closed off as a crime scene,” he said.

‘Sick to my stomach’

Lauren O’Reilly, whose son attends Bonnyrigg High School, said she had struggled to get information about what was happening at the time.

“My son just started Year 7 and I don’t know what’s going on,” she said.

“I feel sick to my stomach to be honest… I’ve called the school and they’ve just said everything’s gone back to normal.

“I said, ‘can you tell me what happened?’ They don’t know.

sydney high school stabbing

“I feel sick for whoever’s child, for whoever’s wife or husband is in there”: parent Lauren O’Reilly. Photo: AAP.

“I want to know that all the kids are alright, not just my child.

“I feel sick for whoever’s child, for whoever’s wife or husband is in there.”

However, Superintendent Lennon said the school had prepared well for a similar situation.

“I understand some of the students and teachers were upset,” he said.

“However, they have processes in place to lock the school down to keep the school secure and safe, which they went about very professionally.

“They actually practice these sorts of procedures.”

In a statement, the Department of Education said counselling and support would be available at the school for affected students and staff.

“As this is a police matter it is inappropriate for the department to provide further comment,” the department said.

– ABC

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