FATHER LINKS SCHOOL STABBING TO ONLINE MATERIAL

The father of a boy convicted of attempting to murder a fellow pupil at Thorpe St Andrew School said he believed extreme material online had influenced his son. The boy stabbed a girl with a kitchen knife at the school near Norwich on 11 March. A trial at King’s Lynn Crown Court ended last week with his conviction for attempted murder. His father, identified publicly as John, apologised to the girl and her family. “We're so very sorry for what happened,” he said.

The two-week trial heard that the boy had developed a fascination with serial killers and mass shootings and held misogynistic views. He wore black clothing and a face mask during the attack, and had planned to target other people. Police later found that he had researched mass shootings and serial killers on the night before the stabbing. The girl spent a night in hospital and did not suffer serious injuries. Legal restrictions prevent the identification of the boy, the girl and witnesses.

John said he did not want to “absolve” his son of responsibility, but called for tighter controls on online material. He said his son had grown more withdrawn during his teenage years, though the family had considered life at home normal before the attack. John and his wife learned the full details of the stabbing during the trial, he said. The government said it remained committed to protecting children from radicalisation and online threats. It cited its Prevent scheme and the Online Safety Act, which it said requires social media platforms to tackle illegal content.