Armed police swoop on Welsh primary school after ‘individuals with knives’ threat

A primary school in Wales was evacuated after threats that people armed with knives would be bursting in to class on Monday morning.

Armed police and dog units descended on Dafen CP School in Llanelli to see if the anonymous threat was credible.

A police spokesperson said: ‘We are now able to disclose that the threat against Dafen CP School was received online and suggested individuals attending the school with knives on Monday, 3 November.

‘A critical incident was called because of the threat, and we have worked closely with Carmarthenshire County Council on the response – including the decision to close the school.

‘The threat was reported to the Metropolitan Police and subsequently passed to Dyfed-Powys Police at 2.30am today (3 November).’

Throughout the day, at least 13 police units were deployed to the school and surrounding areas – including a firearms unit and a dog unit.

The report is now confirmed to have come from a single anonymous source that cannot be identified with no other information to substantiate it.

Gold commander, Superintendent Chris Neve said the threat has now passed and the response has been stood down.

‘We recognise the concern among families of children who attend Dafen CP School, and the wider community today, and apologise we have not been in a position to provide this detail any sooner.

‘The safety of the school and integrity of the inquiry have been paramount – and prevented more details being shared before this point. We recognise the frustration among the community today, and although we have endeavoured to provide as much information as soon as is possible, we recognise this has led to concern.

In a post on Facebook, Llwynhendy, Llangennech, Dafen, and Felinfoel Police said they had ‘received information at around 2.30am that required safeguarding action to be taken’.

Parents of pupils at the school voiced frustration over the handling of the situation.

David Lee wrote: ‘My main concern is simple — are our children safe to return to school? Are the teachers safe to go back? What happens next?

‘With the festive season fast approaching and community events coming up, how can we be sure it’s safe for families to attend? What are our MPs and government doing about this situation? The silence is unacceptable.’

Young dad and small business owner, Steve Spencer, is confused by the police not releasing more information to ease the minds of the local community.

His kids do not go to Dafen CP School and were at home today due to a teacher training day.

If there is no update, he will not be sending his kids to school tomorrow.

Steve told Metro: ‘We live in a country where we are supposed to be comfortable, safe and feel perfectly okay to go wherever we like.

‘But it’s becoming clearer every day now that this isn’t the case. To have this on your doorstep in what’s basically a little village in South Wales compared to the biggest cities in the UK – we don’t necessarily need to deal with this sort of stuff here.’

Previously, in 2016, the school was evacuated as they were one of many schools across the UK targeted by hoax bomb threats.

The local authority later said police teams would be attending schools in the wider Llanelli area ‘to provide reassurance’, while parents and guardians of children at Dafen CP School would get updates via the school’s communication app.

A statement said: ‘We would like to thank parents and guardians for their support during this understandably concerning time.

‘The safety and welfare of the school, pupils, and the wider community are at the heart of this inquiry.’

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