A teacher has been charged over an alleged stabbing that left a Melbourne school principal in hospital and sent students into hiding.
Police released new details on Wednesday morning confirming detectives from the Greater Dandenong Crime Investigation Unit had charged a 37-year-old Mulgrave man following the incident at Keysborough Secondary College.
Emergency services were called about 3pm on Tuesday after reports a man had allegedly been assaulted on school grounds.
Officers arrived within minutes and arrested the accused at the scene.
The alleged victim, identified by the school as principal Aaron Sykes, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
He has since been released.
Police said the arrested man also sustained a minor injury and was taken to hospital under guard before being charged.
He now faces counts of recklessly engaging in conduct placing a person in danger of serious injury, intentionally causing injury, unlawful assault, and assault with a weapon.
He is due to appear before Dandenong Magistrates’ Court today.
Detectives will allege the two men are known to one another.
Students were forced to shelter inside classrooms during the ordeal, with staff moving quickly to keep children away from the scene.
In a letter to families, assistant principals Richard Hastings and Natalie Fode described the event as “distressing” and “traumatic” for the school community.
“Aaron was assisted by emergency services at the soonest opportunity and taken to hospital,” the letter said.
“We have spoken to Aaron and he is recovering well and in good spirits given the circumstances.
“No students were involved in the incident in any way.
“The alleged perpetrator is with police and will not at any stage be back on school grounds.”
They also assured parents the school’s focus remained on safety, saying “the health and safety of our students and staff is always our highest priority.”
A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed officers acted quickly, saying they “arrived on scene and arrested a man” before he was taken away for interview.
“The victim was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries consistent with a stabbing,” police added.
The investigation is ongoing.
