Man charged over attack on 2 pupils

Published on Friday 29 May 2009 09:57

A MAN has been charged with attacking two 14-year-old pupils in the grounds of a city high school – after apparently wrongly blaming them for assaulting a young relative.

The 42-year-old man is alleged to have carried out the attack on the boy and girl outside Broughton High School on Tuesday afternoon.

He is thought to have gone to the Carrington Road school to confront those responsible for a playground attack on a member of his family the previous day. But it is understood the two pupils allegedly assaulted by the man were not involved.

The man was arrested and charged with assault and breach of the peace and will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 8 July.

The school also saw two further fights between pupils on Wednesday after school, though these are said to be unrelated to the previous incidents.

The spate of violence has resulted in some parents keeping their children away from school.

Three pupils have been excluded following the incidents on Monday and Wednesday.

One parent, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal against his daughter, said: "There are a number of parents refusing to send their kids to school because of this. I pick my girl up from school and I have witnessed two or three violent assaults.

"Parents are absolutely astonished about how much violence has been used. We are getting really worried."

It is not known if any pupils have been seriously injured.

Councillor Marilyne MacLaren, city education leader, said the spate of violence at the school was "highly unusual" and Broughton High was taking action against the pupils involved.

She said: "Fighting on school premises will not be tolerated and staff dealt swiftly and appropriately with these incidents.

"It is highly unusual to have several incidents like this in such a short space of time at any of our schools.

"The safety and security of our pupils and staff is extremely important and it must be stressed what happened this week involved only a few pupils.

"As a result they and their families have been contacted by the school resulting in three pupils being excluded."

She added: "The police are also carrying out an investigation so it would be inappropriate to comment further."

A police spokesman said: "A 42-year-old male has been arrested and charged in connection with a breach of the peace and an assault on two 14-year-olds at a school in East Fettes Avenue.

"He is scheduled to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on undertaking on 8 July."