Headteacher of primary school stormed by knife gang during party reveals her shock

The headteacher of a school where a machete wielding gang crashed a birthday party and stabbed two teenagers has spoken out for the first time.

Victoria Morris, the head of Elm Park Primary School in Havering, east London, said she was ‘shocked’ after more than 50 youths entered the building during a 16th birthday party.

Footage shows members of the gang brandishing knives and other weapons as party-goers run from the violence.

A 19-year-old and a boy aged 16 were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The Metropolitan Police said its officers were also among those attacked, but they did not need hospital treatment after being seen by ambulance crews.

Speaking about the attack for the first time, Ms Morris said: ‘We were shocked to hear of a disturbance at a private birthday party in our hall over the weekend. This was a private hire and the people involved were not known to us.

‘No one was injured on the school premises and we have carried out thorough checks to ensure that pupils could safely return to school this morning. 

‘We have successfully let our premises to the local community for years and have stringent protocols in place.

‘We have written to local residents and parents to give them our assurances of this and we have also decided that the hall will no longer be let out for evening events.

‘The incident is currently a police matter and we are helping with their enquiries.’

The Metropolitan Police said: ‘Police were called shortly after 9pm on Saturday March 22 to reports of a fight involving a group on Calbourne Avenue.

‘Officers attended before engaging with a number of teenagers who became aggressive toward them.

‘Three teenagers were arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault on emergency workers. They were taken to an East London police station. They were bailed to return for questioning later today.

‘The officers were treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service medics and do not require hospital treatment.

‘Separately, two individuals, including a 16-year old male and a 19-year old male sustained suspected knife injuries and were taken to hospital where their injuries were deemed neither life-changing nor life-threatening. They continue to assist police with their enquiries.

‘An investigating into the circumstances of the incident is ongoing.’

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