BYFORD SCHOOLS LOCKED DOWN AFTER REPORTED WEAPON INCIDENT

A major police response unfolded in Byford this afternoon after reports of a boy carrying an edged weapon near a school, prompting several schools in the area to activate emergency procedures.

Byford Secondary College and Salvado Catholic College were among the schools impacted, with students placed into lockdown or shelter in place arrangements while police responded.

Parents at one of the schools received an urgent message advising:

“There is currently a police incident in Byford which means all students are currently in Shelter in Place in classrooms. Please DO NOT come onsite until further communication from the College.”

WA Police have since confirmed a male was apprehended and is assisting with inquiries.

Police say no injuries have been reported and no edged weapon has been located.

UPDATE: 3:20PM

WA in Focus has been told the person at the centre of the incident is allegedly a Year 10 student from Byford Secondary College.

Unconfirmed information provided to WA in Focus also alleges the student has previously spent time in juvenile detention. This has not been confirmed by WA Police or another official source.

UPDATE: 3:26PM

Students at both Byford Secondary College and Salvado Catholic College have now been released.

Lockdown and shelter in place arrangements have ended, with students permitted to leave the campuses.

UPDATE: 4:20PM

WA Police indicated no injuries have been reported following the incident.

Police were initially called at approximately 2:25pm following reports of a boy carrying an edged weapon near a school.

A significant police presence was deployed to the Abernethy Road area, where both Byford Secondary College and Salvado Catholic College are located.

UPDATE: 4:50PM

One of the affected schools has confirmed it entered lockdown at approximately 2:45pm as a precaution in response to the police incident.

In an email to families, the school said students remained supervised throughout the lockdown and followed staff instructions.

The situation was later resolved safely, with the lockdown lifted on advice from WA Police.

Students were dismissed at approximately 3:20pm.

The school said the safety and wellbeing of students and staff remained its highest priority and encouraged families to seek additional support if children had concerns following the incident.

UPDATE: 4:57PM

WA Police have now confirmed a male has been apprehended and is assisting with inquiries.

Police said they were called at approximately 2:25pm following reports of a boy carrying an edged weapon near a school.

Several schools in the area subsequently activated lockdown procedures while officers attended the scene.

Importantly, police have confirmed no injuries were reported and no edged weapon has been located.

UPDATE: 5:59PM

WA in Focus understands the initial police response was triggered by a school staff member who contacted police at approximately 2.25pm, reporting that a male student was on school grounds with an alleged edged weapon.

That report prompted the significant police response and subsequent lockdowns across both Byford Secondary College and Salvado Catholic College.

Police later apprehended a male who is assisting with inquiries.