Boy stabbed in schoolyard at St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe

A 12-YEAR-old boy is in a critical condition in hospital after being stabbed in the chest in the schoolyard at a private boys' school on Brisbane's north side.

The incident happened about 8.15am at St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe.

A 13-year-old boy found a short distance from the school was also injured and is in police custody.

The school is in lockdown and police and emergency services are at the scene.

"We've treated a child with a puncture wound to the chest," a Department of Community Safety spokeswoman said.

"He's been transported to the Royal Children's Hospital under lights and sirens."

Police said they were speaking with a youth about the incident.

"Another youth is currently assisting police with inquiries," a spokeswoman said.

St Patrick's College at Shorncliffe said it was unable to comment on the incident.

**ARTICLE UPDATE BELOW**

A 12-YEAR-old boy has died after a schoolyard stabbing in Brisbane, in what the school's headmaster has described as a "tragic loss of young life".

Police allege a 13-year-old boy from the same school, St Patrick's College at Shorncliffe, stabbed the boy in the chest about 8.15am (AEST) this morning.

The critically injured 12-year-old was treated by paramedics at the scene, before being taken by ambulance to the Royal Children's Hospital with a senior staff member by his side, under police escort.

His parents were contacted and immediately went to the hospital to be with him.

But he died shortly after arriving at the hospital, school headmaster Dr Michael Carroll said in a prepared statement.

"This has been a tragic loss of young life," Dr Carroll said.

"My immediate concern is the welfare of the families affected and all students and staff at the college.

"I have informed students and staff of this tragedy and counselling services are available to all students and staff.

"While I'm unable to discuss the details of how the injury was sustained, I can confirm that it did involve another student from the college and that other student is now assisting police with their inquiries."

The 13-year-old student assisting police was found by officers near the school with a minor wound that required hospital treatment.

No one else was injured during the incident.

The school went into lockdown but this was later lifted.

"All procedures have been followed so the safety of all other students was ensured," Detective Acting Inspector Todd Reid said.

Dr Carroll said the school was co-operating with police.

"Our thoughts and prayers remain with all affected by this terrible tragedy, particularly the parents of the deceased boy," he said.

He declined to take questions from reporters.

The Christian Brothers school has 1100 students in years five to 12 and has operated since 1952.

Among its alumni are Wallaby Drew Mitchell and rugby league star Michael Crocker.

This is the craziest thing I've seen in a long time, and I can relate to this article heavily as I am a former student of this college, spent 5 years of my life there and graduated year 12.

Usually when I hear about these things, their not happening in Australia and if they are, it certainly isn't in Brisbane.

I wonder what made the accused do what he did? Who brings a knife to school, and in Australia? I guess we won't know for some time if bullying was a contributing factor to the circumstances that took place.

My heart goes out to the Victim and his family.

I heard about this just after it happened this morning. Then just after lunch that he had died... this is such a sad story and I think it's made worse because these things just don't happen here.

Well, they never used to. I can't imagine getting a phone call from the school telling me that my child had been stabbed.. the bubble is slowly bursting.

RIP little fella.

In Britain we have a newspaper called the Daily Mail, and it has taken me nearly 9 years of letters, phone calls etc. to persuade them to stop printing "knife metaphor cacophemisms" such as-


"knives are out"

"knives come out"

"knives are being sharpened"





Because every time I get a feed of one of these in my inbox from a U.K. newspaper, shortly afterward I get the report of the resultant murder/s.

One upsetting time the Daily Mail printed about knives being out for Gordon Ramsay, and I am sure that this was the catalst that caused the murder of a group of children at a children's party, later that day.

Another time, the Daily Mail newspaper printed "Sharpened knives anyone?", and my data suggests that this led to two murders.

Just recently, several Australian newspapers started issuing "knives are out" metaphor cacophemisms and/or dysphemisms, and then just a week later, a heartbroken parent/relative was relaying her distress at the loss of life of a loved one in Australia.

What I have noticed, notwithstanding other influencing factors (such as the film Kidulthood where they appear to openly 'sing' about the Daily Mail newspaper and it's influence), is that whenever a newspaper prints a "knives come out" or "knives are out" that's when all the murder starts up again, and when they don't, there's virtually no knife crime!

This I have observed by monitoring my "ticker-tape" press email feed.