Three Pupils Held Over School ‘Rambo’ Riot Bid

THREE pupils, one said to be just 13, took “Rambo” style knives and a baseball bat to school to use the playground as a “battlefield”, it was claimed Only an eagle-eyed closed circuit camera operator prevented a running battle, which parents believe could have resulted in a full-scale riot, putting children’s and teachers’ lives put at risk.

Police swooped to arrest who they believe were the ringleaders. The kids, it is believed, are aged 13, 14 and 15.

Tom Mills, headteacher of St Andrew’s High School, Coatbridge said: “The school’s CCTV system showed a small group of pupils had a number of weapons, including knives and a small baseball bat.

“The pupils were not in the school building, but were within the campus.”

A parent of a pupil at the school, who does not want to be identified, said: “My daughter came home absolutely terrified.

“She told me the situation was in danger of getting out of hand and gang warfare breaking out.

“She tells me this has been boiling up since the new school opened after the joining of two secondary schools in the town.

“It is not a sectarian issue, but more of a territorial issue. One knife, my daughter tells me, was eight inches long. It was like something out of a Rambo film.”

A spokesman for Strathclyde police said three pupils are “subject to a report” to the Children’s panel, for “possession of a bladed weapon”.

St Andrew’s High School was formed in August 2006 following the highly controversial amalgamation by North Lanarkshire Council of two of the town’s Roman Catholic secondary schools, St Patrick’s and Columba High.

The new school, which has 1268 pupils, was re-located to a new building in Old Monkland Road, Coatbridge, and opened just four months ago.

The terrified parent added: “The gangland feeling has been an issue from day one, with a hatred between the pupils of the two former schools. Kids and teachers are just not safe.”

It is understood local residents have complained to school bosses several times, with parents concerned about the behaviour of “warring” groups.

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