Croydon schools locked down over bladed weapon reports
Police searched for a teenager after reports of a bladed weapon near John Ruskin College and Quest Academy.
Incident → evidence → outcomeJohn Ruskin College and Quest Academy in Croydon were placed on temporary lockdown on the evening of 23 May 2024 following reports of a person carrying a bladed weapon in the vicinity. Parents received messages from students indicating they were unable to leave school premises, with some suggesting a machete may have been involved.
Police response
Metropolitan Police officers were dispatched to a college on Selsdon Park Road at 5.08pm. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police stated that by the time officers arrived, the individual had already left the area. The college was temporarily locked down while officers conducted enquiries. The lockdown has since been lifted.
No arrests have been made in connection with the incident. Police are actively searching for the suspect, who is believed to be a teenager. No injuries were reported among students or staff. Quest Academy confirmed its precautionary lockdown was implemented and pupils were permitted to leave once the school received clearance.
Questions this report answers
01Why were Croydon schools locked down?
John Ruskin College and Quest Academy in Croydon were temporarily locked down on 23 May 2024 due to reports of a person seen with a bladed weapon in the area. The measure was taken as a precaution while police investigated.
02Were any arrests made?
No arrests have been made. Metropolitan Police officers attended a college on Selsdon Park Road following the reports, but the suspect had left the scene before their arrival. Police are continuing to search for the individual.
03Were there any injuries reported?
No injuries were reported during the incident. The lockdown was implemented as a precautionary measure, and students were able to leave the school buildings once police confirmed the area was safe.
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