Pupil charged after BB gun school incident

The alleged incident occurred at Edinburgh’s Drummond Community school on Thursday, 3 March.

Pupils told parents the scare had led to the school being put under “lockdown” until police arrived and that some pupils were extremely frightened, fearing a terrorist attack.

Police officers arrived at the school in Bellevue Place shortly after being contacted by a teacher. It is believed pupils told a teacher that the 14-year-old pupil had the BB gun on him. A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “A 14-year-old male has been charged after being found in possession of an air weapon at a school in the north of the city. A report will be submitted to the Procurator-Fiscal.”

A spokesman for Edinburgh City Council said: “The safety of our pupils and staff is paramount and as soon as we were aware of the incident we immediately contacted police.

“It was dealt with safely and staff have spoken to pupils about the consequences of such irresponsible actions. We are continuing to liaise closely with the police.”

Parents and guardians were e-mailed by Susan Cook, the school’s head teacher, on the day of the incident reassuring them that no-one had been harmed and warning that weapons were not to be brought to school.

The e-mail stated: “There was an incident at Drummond Community High School this morning when a pupil brought a BB gun into school.

“Please be reassured that this has been dealt with safely with the support of the police and City of Edinburgh Council.

“We have spoken with all pupils to remind them that bringing in any weapon to school is extremely dangerous, police will be contacted immediately and there are serious consequences for the individual.” An assembly was held warning of the dangers of carrying weapons.

In a separate incident in a school in Aberdeenshire, a teenage boy has been charged after allegedly being found with a knife at a secondary school

Aberdeenshire Council’s head of secondary education, Vincent Docherty, said: “We are working very closely with colleagues in Police Scotland in relation to an incident involving an offensive weapon being brought into Fraserburgh Academy.

“Swift action was taken by the school, no-one was harmed and the matter is being investigated. The safety of every pupil and member of staff within Aberdeenshire schools is of paramount importance.”

“While these incidents are rare, we are not complacent. Any behaviour that threatens the safety of our school communities will not be tolerated.

Police confirmed a youth was charged following an incident on 9 March.