Knife rampage at school Infants slashed as teddy bears' picnic ends in playground bloodbath

The knifeman, whose onslaught appeared to begin with an argument with a woman outside the school gates, was only prevented from wreaking further havoc by courageous parents who barred his path and chased him from the scene.

Police last night named a man they want to trace as 32-year-old Horrett Irving Campbell - also known as Izzie - who lives in Villiers House, a block of flats near the scene of the attack.

Superintendent Pat Wing, of West Midlands Police, warned the public not to approach Campbell. He cautioned: ``He's a dangerous man. We would wish to trace him and arrest him.''

Superintendent Wing said Campbell's flat in Villiers House had been searched. He was not there, but police would continue combing the block.

They had also searched other premises nearby but were now concentrating their efforts on Villiers House.

Superintendent Wing said Campbell was black, 5ft 9ins, slim build, with a short stubbly beard. At the time of the attack he was wearing a tweed jacket, tweed trilby hat and dark trousers.

The injured were a three-year-old boy, two four-year-old girls, a teacher, a mother, a playgroup leader and one other adult.

Dr Simon Walford, of the town's New Cross Hospital, where the injured were taken under police escort, said three children and three adults admitted to the hospital all had injuries requiring surgery.

The fourth adult suffered minor injuries and was not admitted.

He said one of the girls had been operated on and was in a stable condition in intensive care. She had been ``hit quite hard by somebody with a big, heavy knife''.

A boy with serious head and arm injuries had been transferred to the Birmingham Children's Hospital.

A third child who suffered facial injuries was due to have plastic surgery.

Dr Walford confirmed one of the adults was a teacher at the school and one was a parent.

The other children's parents were at the hospital. Dr Walford said: ``They are suffering from terrible shock. It is unbelievable to us all that something like this could happen here. There is also anger now that anybody could do such a thing.''

Superintendent Wing described the events of the afternoon. ``At about 3.15pm, while the youngsters were playing in the school grounds, under the supervision of their teacher, an argument was going on outside the school involving a man and a woman.

``That argument became more violent, and caused the teacher to become concerned for the safety of the children.

``As the teacher was trying to usher them into the school, he leapt over the brick wall surrounding the school, and attacked the teacher with either an axe or machete, causing her serious injuries to her arms and back.

``He attacked a further three adults and three children, meaning that seven people were injured, six seriously. One was released from hospital tonight.''

The attacker was only prevented from killing the children by the bravery of the parents, Wolverhampton's chair of education, Mr Bob Jones, said.

``The perpetrator climbed over a fence and a wall to get into the playground,'' he said. ``He started attacking the children who tried to run inside.''

One mother was injured as she stood in the doorway of the school, barring the attacker's path into the building.

``We believe he was then chased away by a father of a pupil. If it had not been for those parents, this could have been much worse. I am glad no-one was killed.''

The shocking attack reopened the debate into security at Britain's schools. It came just four months after the Dunblane massacre.

When he heard of the incident in Wolverhampton, Dunblane councillor Arthur Ironside said: ``Oh my God, not again. We are all sickened by this atrocity. No-one can understand how anyone can hurt little children. What possible benefit is there for this evil man?

``Our own tragedy happened just four months ago. Now every parent involved will be reliving the hell of that day and the weeks that followed, as they see this on the news.

``It's beyond belief that after what happened here someone could target another school.''

Mr Ironside also said the attack highlighted the need for protection around schools.

He said: ``I know schools can't be prisons but we have to have security. We must protect the children, school security has got to be looked at quickly and something done or no parent will ever feel safe.''

The children who were attacked were taking part in a tea party arranged for youngsters expected to join the school in the autumn, Wolverhampton Education Authority said.

The party was arranged with the idea of making the children feel at home when they came to start school for real next term.

After the terrifying onslaught, the children's discarded teddy bears could be seen scattered around the playground where their frightened owners had dropped them as they fled.

The father of a seven-year-old

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girl injured in the incident described the moment when the man attacked.

He said the man had been seen ``suspiciously walking around the kindergarten''.

The attacker had used a ``two-foot long machete which he took out of its sheath,'' the father told BBC Radio 5 Live's Nationwide programme.

``An Asian lady with her back to him was smacked right in the back of the head with it and she fell to the floor.

``He was lashing around at anything in his way, children, teachers, whatever. The teacher was hit over the head as well.''

He said his daughter, who was taken to hospital, was ``all right, but she's not speaking at the moment''.

``She's just saying that I never want to go to that school again.''

Ms Margaret Morrissey, spokesman for the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations, said: ``The Government must come forward now and make schools safe.''

It was not enough for Government Ministers to reassure parents that violent attacks in schools were rare, she said.

Education Minister Robin Squire told MPs in the House of Commons that schools were getting safer.

But Mrs Morrissey said: ``This is the third serious assault in our schools in less than 12 months. When is the Government going to wake up?''

Mr Squire yesterday repeated the Government's pledge that school security was a high priority - and that extra cash would be made available from next year.

He urged parents to keep the attack ``in perspective''.

``It is still the very, very few incidents where this happens. The vast majority of our schools are safe,'' he said.

Mr Doug McAvoy, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: ``Lessons can always be learnt from appalling incidents like these. The need for police-school liaisons so that prevention can take place is obviously vital. The NUT's sympathies go out to all concerned.''

The school will remain closed today and no decision has been taken on when it will reopen.