A 17-year-old student is recovering in hospital after he was allegedly stabbed three times by a fellow student at the Islamic College of Brisbane, prompting a lockdown and an urgent police response at the school’s Karawatha campus in Brisbane’s south. The incident marks the second alleged stabbing at a Queensland school in less than 24 hours.
Emergency services were called to the college shortly before 11.45am on Tuesday, July 14, following reports of an altercation between two students. Queensland Police allege a 16-year-old boy, who was known to the victim, stabbed the 17-year-old with a small knife before fleeing the scene on foot.
The injured teenager was rushed to Princess Alexandra Hospital with life-threatening injuries but has since been upgraded to a stable condition. Police later located the accused in a vehicle on Gowan Road, Stretton, where he was arrested without incident.
The 16-year-old has been charged with an act intended to maim, disfigure or disable and unlawful possession of a Category M weapon. He is due to appear before Richlands Children’s Court. Detectives are appealing for anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage from the Karawatha area around the time of the incident to contact police.
The school was placed into lockdown as staff secured students while police and paramedics responded. Once the situation was brought under control, students were dismissed early. The Islamic College of Brisbane said counselling and wellbeing support had been made available to students and staff, while urging the public not to spread unverified information that could cause further distress or compromise the investigation. Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek also expressed support for the victim and the school community.
The stabbing follows another violent incident on Monday at Trinity Bay State High School in Manunda, Cairns, where a 15-year-old boy was allegedly stabbed in the abdomen during a fight. Another 15-year-old was arrested and charged with acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm after that incident.
