School on 'lockdown' and armed police called with parents 'terrified'

A school was put on 'lockdown' with armed police called on Wednesday afternoon (January 22). Police and armed officers were seen arriving at Lilly Lane Primary School in Moston at around 3pm.

Parents have said they turned up to collect their children to see police swarming the area and to find the gates locked. One mum said she was 'panicking' with another 'terrified'.

Police confirmed they were called to reports of a man with a knife at the primary school. Armed officers attended and the school was put into lockdown as a precaution.

Members of school staff could be seen speaking to parents through the gates with scores of people stood at the roadside waiting outside for what parents have said was around 45 minutes.

It is understood the suspect had also attempted to stab an adult victim with the knife, and was later arrested on suspicion of attempted assault. It is thought the blade was pulled out on a parent collecting their child after an 'altercation' in the school playground. 

One 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.

"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.

"