Teenager questioned after boy, 14, stabbed at Pembroke’s St Clare’s College

A 14-year-old boy is being questioned by police after a pupil was stabbed with a knife at St Clare’s College in Pembroke.

The victim, another 14-year-old boy, was taken to hospital for treatment and is in a stable condition, according to police.

Emergency services were called to the school on Martin Luther King Road at about 7.45am “after an argument that happened between two 14-year-old boys”, police spokesperson Brandon Pisani said. 

The victim’s family is aware, and the alleged aggressor is being questioned by the police at the school in the presence of his parents.

Pisani stressed that the school is now under control and that parents do not need to worry. He said classes were ongoing and parents do not need to pick up their children.  

The Ministry of Education said the argument was between two foreign students. The two are Libyan students who have been living in Malta for 11 years.

“They were only three when they arrived to Malta so they have always gone to school here,” said Pisani.

The aggressor is believed to have been suspended from school for a while but was then readmitted following a medical report. 

Two ambulances at the school after a 14-year-old boy was stabbed. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

The assistant head of the school earlier addressed parents, telling them that one child was in hospital and that the school is now safe. He said the school would be sharing that information via SMS with parents.

However, around 20 parents turned up at the school and several took their children out despite the assurances.

One shocked parent said: “They take the kids phones but they don’t check for knives?!”

Another said, “I have been saying they need more security.” One parent suggested the idea of having security scanning machines while others nodded their heads in agreement.

The Malta Union of Teachers said it was closely following the case and was in contact with the Education Ministry.  

The Education Ministry said the Victim Support Agency is supporting students and educators who witnessed the incident. 

Back in 2019, teachers at the school had complained about racial tensions at the school, saying things were “getting out of control”.

Those complaints surfaced after a child ended up in hospital when he was attacked by a fellow student.

Magistrate Philip Galea Farrugia is conducting an inquiry.