Students witnessed the stabbing of a teacher at a Bradford's Kings Dixons Academy, it has emerged.

Speaking outside the school gates, the executive principal of the Dixons Academy chain, Nick Weller said: "It happened right at the beginning of the school day and there were some students who witnessed it. A few students witnessed it - in a classroom.

"Those students have been interviewed by the police."

Asked if he knew where the teacher had been knifed, he said: "I think in the stomach area. We have a member of staff at the hospital."

The teacher is said to be stable and not suffering internal bleeding.

Mr Weller said there was nothing in school that suggested the attack was going to happen, saying it was  totally out of the blue.

He said: ''I think there was some....the police are looking into the lead up to this incident, there was nothing in school that led up to it - there may have been other people outside the school who maybe knew something.''

Mr Weller said a member of staff was at the hospital with the teacher while counsellors were on site supporting pupils.

He confirmed the suspect was a pupil at the school and has been there a year and urged the boy to hand himself in at a police station.

He said: "The best thing for him to do is give himself in. The sooner he does that, probably the better for him."

Mr Weller said the site was secure, but added: "But we don't have random searches of students."

He said it was the first weapons incident the academy had dealt with.

The teacher is said to be stable and not suffering internal bleeding.

Speaking at the same press conference, outside school gates, the principal of the school Neil Miley, added:  "A member of staff was assaulted with a knife by a 14-year-old student.

"He is currently stable it's been reported that there is no internal bleeding and thoughts are with him and his family at this time.

"We are working very closely with the police and our students and staff are safe and very calm considering. We're trying to keep a normal routine today. The students are displaying a tremendous maturity at this very difficult time."

The Lidget Green School has released an updated statement as the hunt continues for a 14-year-old boy following the stabbing which police were called to at around 8.55am today.

The school's latest statement said: "Following authorisation from the police we are able to release further details of the serious incident that occurred first thing this morning.

"A member of staff was assaulted with a knife by a 14-year-old student who then ran off the site. The member of staff is in hospital and his condition is described as stable, there is no internal bleeding. Our thoughts are with him and his family at this time.

"We are working very closely with the police and our main priority at the moment is the well-being of our student and staff community and reassuring our parents.

"All students are safe and calm and have responded with tremendous maturity during a very difficult time. Thank you to parents for the overwhelming support you have given us today.

"We will continue to update you as and when we are given more information."

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