A primary school was plunged into lockdown after a seven-year-old boy reportedly brought a knife to class and allegedly threatened to kill his classmates.
The terrifying incident occurred on Monday at Mount Gambier North Primary School, 435 kilometers southeast of Adelaide.
One shocked parent claimed the boy, who has a history of behavioral problems, brought a “block-carving kitchen knife” to class.
she told him Advertiser that the boy hit his daughter and threatened to kill other students.
The teachers launched an immediate “invacuation” as soon as they realized the boy had a knife in his bag.
Police were called to the school to speak with the boy, who was later suspended.
Mount Gambier North Primary School (pictured) was placed on lockdown after a seven-year-old boy reportedly brought a knife to class and threatened his classmates.
“The bag was confiscated and, as a result, the student became upset and behaved inappropriately,” an education department spokesperson said.
‘The student’s family and the police were contacted. As a result of this behavior, the student has been suspended.’
School principal Sam Griffiths also addressed the incident in an email to parents.
“The school’s immediate response was an invacuation (lockdown) to ensure the safety of our students and staff,” he wrote.
‘Our welfare team has checked on all students.
The mother said her daughter was “hit by the boy with his fist out of anger” and that she and other parents she has spoken to “I don’t feel like our kids are okay.”
He also claimed that a teacher had taken a week off due to stress over the incident.
The parent said the school had not revealed how it plans to help students’ physical and emotional well-being after the incident, but is instead “working on how and what it will look like for the harassing student to return (to school).”
School principal Sam Griffiths sent an email (pictured) to parents about the incident.
The education department confirmed there were “a significant number of behavioral incidents this year at the school involving this student.”
A safety plan will be put in place to “better meet the needs of the student… as well as ensure the safety of the broader school community.”
“The school continues to work closely with parents to best meet the needs of each student and support their learning and wellbeing, as well as ensuring the safety of the wider school community,” a spokesperson said.
The latest knife-related incident at a school came after Chifley College in western Sydney was placed on lockdown on May 9, when a student arrived on campus armed with a knife.