A parent who was stabbed near a primary school had been trying to ‘challenge anti-social behaviour’, the headteacher has said.
The dad in his 30s was knifed in the shoulder just as pupils were leaving at the end of the school day on Thursday.
He was attacked near Water Orton Primary School in Water Orton, Birmingham in what’s been called an ‘unusual and isolated’ incident.
Headteacher Carl Lewis said in a statement to parents that the man was ‘safe and well’ following his ordeal.
Three people were arrested over the incident but two of them, an 18-year-old woman and a 20 year-old man, both from Birmingham, have since been released with no further action.
A 20-year-old man from Birmingham remained in custody on suspicion of assault on Friday afternoon.
Police said one of the suspects had been detained at the scene by an off duty officer.
Mr Lewis said parents should reassure their children, particularly if they may have witnessed the incident.
His statement, sent out yesterday, said: I can confirm that after school today, a parent was stabbed after challenging some antisocial behaviour on the park.
‘Thankfully, the parent is safe and well. Guidance from Warwickshire Educational Psychologist Team has been posted on the school website.
‘It suggests that if your child wants to talk about the incident, to discuss it calmly and reassure them that your child is safe.
‘In this instance, thanks to vigilance of parents and community, three arrests have been made and children and families should be reassured that this is an unusual, isolated incident.
‘I will speak to children in assembly tomorrow and reassure them again, as will staff.’
Mr Lewis added that his team had been ‘alerted to the individuals’ and were ‘actively looking for them’ when the man was stabbed.
A statement from Warwickshire Police said the victim’s injuries are not thought to be serious.
It added: ‘Police initially received a report at 3.18pm of two males and a female being abusive and aggressive towards people in the street. The victim was reportedly stabbed with a small knife after he remonstrated with the group.’
A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed paramedics treated a male patient for minor injuries.
Warwickshire Police urged anyone with information, dash-cam or phone video footage to get in touch.
Detective Sergeant Paul Sartoris from Warwickshire Police CID said: ‘One of the suspects was detained at the scene by an off duty police officer and other officers were quickly on the scene to detain the other suspects.
‘We’re keen to speak to any witnesses who saw the incident or the three people prior to the altercation. We’re also keen to speak to anyone with video footage.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.