Warwick High student ‘armed with baton, fishing knife’ in reported school attack

New reports suggest a Warwick High student allegedly struck his victim in the face with a baton before pulling a knife from his bag in an alarming on-campus attack.

ON SCENE: A Warwick State High School student has allegedly attacked a classmate with a baton before pulling a knife in an on-campus assault. Picture: Warwick Daily News

Reports suggest a Warwick State High School student who allegedly attacked a classmate before fleeing the scene on foot was armed with a baton and fishing knife.

Police were called to the campus at about 1pm Wednesday after a student was left with a minor injury when they were reportedly assaulted with a “sharp implement” by a fellow student.

The incident sent the school into lockdown and the alleged offender managed to escape the campus on foot.

A Warwick High student told the Daily News the student first hit the victim in the face with a baton, causing the small injury, and the weapon was wrangled from him by a quick-acting teacher.

The source claimed the child then returned to his bag and pulled out a fishing knife.

These reports are yet to be confirmed by police.

Warwick High principal Joy Craig issued a statement to parents and caregivers just before 3.30pm Wednesday confirming the school went into lockdown almost four hours earlier to protect staff and students.

“I want to reassure you that we treat the safety and welfare of your children, our students, and our staff as our highest priority,” it read.

“I understand there may be some concerns from parents in the school community in relation to this matter and assure you that, as always, we respond to matters in strict accordance with all appropriate policy and procedures.

“Support services at the school include our guidance officer, wellbeing team, year-level coordinators, and year-level deputy principals. If you have any further concerns, please contact one of our team.”

Warwick High is the largest secondary school in the region with a cohort of about 850 students.

Police were earlier this afternoon searching for a child who allegedly assaulted another student with a sharp object at a Warwick high school before fleeing the campus.

Emergency services were called to Warwick State High School at about 1pm Wednesday amid reports a student attacked a fellow student with a sharp implement.

Warwick Police officer-in-charge Jamie Deacon said the victim was left with a minor injury and the incident sent the entire school into lockdown.

“A child decamps, that child is a student at the school, and he hasn’t been located at this point in time,” he said.

“A complaint has been taken from a child at the school.”

Sergeant Deacon said another “altercation” was currently unfolding at Warwick Christian College, with police crews still at the scene.

It is unclear at this stage whether the incidents are connected.

More to come.