15-year-old boy dies after being stabbed at school
Harvey Willgoose, a teenager wearing a black T-shirt, looks at the camera.
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The dead teenager was identified at the scene as Harvey Willgoose.
A 15-year-old boy has died after being stabbed at a school in Sheffield, police have said.
The boy, identified locally as Harvey Willgoose, was injured at All Saints Catholic High School, on Granville Road in the city, at around 12:17 GMT.
Police and paramedics were called but the teenager died a short time later.
A 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody, South Yorkshire Police said.
Deputy Chief Constable Lindsey Butterfield told a news conference that forces were working "rapidly to build a full picture of what happened and how this tragedy unfolded". "We urge you to remember that their loved ones are at the heart of this issue," he added.
A large police presence was in and around the school.
All Saints School principal Sean Pender sent a message to parents on January 29 regarding the site's closure.
He explained that the action was due to "threatening behavior among a small number of students."
ACC Butterfield was asked about the information at the press conference, but the officer said he could not share any further information. He concluded the press conference by asking people to avoid speculation and sharing content online "that could be upsetting to them [the family] and detrimental to our investigation."
A police officer approaches the camera as numerous emergency vehicles line both sides of the road with crime scene tape.
The area has been cordoned off as police launch an investigation.
Several tributes and floral messages were left outside the school that evening.
One message described the teenager as someone who was the "life of the party" who "brought joy and laughter to everyone who knew him."
He added that "his bubbly personality was contagious."
"I will never forget all the moments, all the laughter. "You will be missed by a lot of people," he said.
A teenager who said he knew the 15-year-old also left a bouquet of flowers outside the school.
The 17-year-old, who studies at a local college, heard the news through friends and said the dead boy was a Sheffield United supporter.
He said: "I'm a bit upset to be honest, it's been a huge shock."
"He seemed like a pretty happy guy and nice to get to know."
A pupil at All Saints said the victim was a "nice kid." "It made your day better to hear him in that corridor. "You didn't have to know him personally to be angry," said the 17-year-old.
"The teachers loved him, the students loved him, everyone loved him.
"I've been at the school for seven years and nothing like this has ever happened."
Three police officers stand by a gate at the front of a school building
The school is due to close to pupils on Tuesday.
The school was last inspected by Ofsted in October 2023 and was judged good overall, with inspectors saying the school had a "strong ethos of warmth and respect".
A number of parents had arrived at the school to collect their children early. One told the BBC he was anxious to take his child home after hearing several rumours about what had happened, adding that "the children were panicking".
According to local newspaper The Star, the school's headmaster sent a message to parents on Monday.
He said he was "shocked and saddened" to have to tell people that a student had been stabbed to death.
He also said the school would be closed on Tuesday.
Amaan Ahmed, who runs the Castle Asian Community Trust near the school, said the area was no stranger to knife crime. The organisation works with young people to help them stay away from knives.
He fears the boy's death will prompt parents to question whether they should send their children back to school.
"If this could happen in a public place like a school, people would be worried about going to the park, I think," he added.
"Serious question"
Asked about the incident during a trip to Brussels, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said his first thoughts "as a father" were for the victim's family.
"The horrific massacre in Sheffield is a case where I think the whole country would like to reach out to the family, the friends, the school, the whole community in their grief and sit with them," he said. Louise Haigh, MP for Sheffield Heeley, said the news was "terrible" and her thoughts were with all those affected.
"There are serious questions that need to be answered about how this could have happened," she said, adding that she would work with the school, police and council "to ensure that is the case."
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said she was "devastated" by the boy's death.
She added: "We are in touch with the school and the council to offer our support."
In an emotional statement, Education Secretary Catherine McKinnell told the Commons: "My heart goes out to his family, friends and the whole school community at this very difficult time."
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said he had spoken to the county's chief executive, Lauren Poultney, and offered her his full support.
"This morning a teenager went to school like thousands of others in South Yorkshire, but he will not return home; a young man who was a member of our community, with his whole life ahead of him," he said. The image shows a man with a beard, glasses and a baseball cap, sitting on the steps outside.
Anti-crime campaigner Anthony Olaseinde said he had been holding sessions at All Saints.
Sheffield-based Anthony Olaseinde is an anti-knife crime campaigner for the charity Always an Alternative and said the incident was "heartbreaking".
"Something like this shouldn't happen," he said.
He said the charity had been holding sessions at All Saints and had been working with young people at the school.
"I was at the school as a mentor to them," he said.
" We held sessions on conflict management. We made a short film to raise awareness among young people at school about knife crime.
"The young people were really engaged and positive."
He called for better support and increased resources for organisations working with young people.
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