Caroline Willgoose, the mother of school stabbing victim Harvey Willgoose, said knife crime was a ‘pandemic’ following a knife attack at a school in Manchester
The mum of Harvey Willgoose, the 15-year-old who was stabbed to death at school, said she was left “horrified” after two students and a member of staff were knifed in an attack on Tuesday.
Caroline Willgoose, 51, shared her shock after two pupils, both aged 14, and a 27-year-old school worker were stabbed at a secondary school in Blackley, Manchester. A 14-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of section 18 assault after police rushed to the Co-op Academy, and Greater Manchester Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
Harvey’s mother, responding to Tuesday’s incident, said it proves knife crime “is a pandemic”.
Caroline’s words come over a year after her son Harvey suffered two fatal stab wounds in the courtyard of All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
The heartbroken mother, speaking to Manchester Evening News, said: “How many times do students or teachers need to get injured before action is taken? The last thing I thought I would be doing was speaking about knife crime, as everyone thinks it is a gang-related thing. But Harvey’s and today’s again proves it isn’t – it is a pandemic.”
Harvey was stabbed by his former friend Mohammed Umar Khan in their school’s courtyard on February 3, 2025, and the 15-year-old lost consciousness and died within a minute. Khan was detained for life with a minimum term of 16 after he was found guilty of murder.
Caroline has been campaigning across the country for metal detector arches to be placed in schools to prevent more attacks and knives being brought into classrooms.
The mum added: “They should have gone into all schools as soon as what happened to Harvey. I urge parents to ask their children if they have seen or heard of someone having a knife while in school, and I am sure they will be surprised by what they have to say.
“Reading about school stabbings opens up old wounds for me. I feel sorry for pupils, teachers, going into school scared and parent’s sending them in. Teachers at the school Harvey was killed feared for themselves. Why should teachers and pupils be going into school and not feeling safe?”
Caroline had called on the government and school bodies to take action and ensure the safety of pupils and staff during school hours. She added: “It doesn’t surprise me anymore to read about attacks in schools, if anything, I expect it now. When are the government and school bodies going to listen.
“The government needs to step in now and take control of the situation. How sad is it that the pupil who killed Harvey is suffering in prison, I think he should be, but it is tragic. Children and teachers need to be shown the bigger picture and take it seriously.”
Chief Inspector Jon Shilvock, on Tuesday’s school attack in Manchester, said: “We understand that this incident will have caused concern to pupils, staff and the wider school community.
“The incident was swiftly and quickly dealt with by staff before officers attended to arrest the girl. There is believed to be no wider threat at this time and we thank everyone for their support as emergency services dealt with this. We are not looking for anyone further in connection with this incident. Officers will remain at the school and within the area to provide a visible presence and community reassurance.”
