Special needs teacher attacked in Ammanford school stabbings suffered 'four deep knife wounds' and will 'take weeks to fully recover' her husband reveals, as police charge pupil, 13, with attempted murder
- Liz Hopkin was stabbed in the neck, back and knee as she defended a pupil
- Her husband says she is now home and recovering, putting on a 'brave face'
- Police charge girl with attempted murder as boy is investigated over threats
A special needs teacher who was allegedly attacked in the Ammanford school stabbings suffered several deep knife wounds and will take weeks to recover, her husband says.
Liz Hopkin is one of two female teachers at at Ysgol Duffryn Aman (Aman Valley School) who was allegedly attacked by a teenager on Wednesday. Another child was stabbed before the attacker was restrained by another teacher and arrested.
A 13-year-old girl has been charged with attempted murder by Dyfed Powys Police. Mrs Hopkin's husband, meanwhile, has said his wife suffered four deep knife wounds in the incident, but is now home and recovering.
Family sources have also told MailOnline the special needs teacher remains on 'a lot of painkillers' - but is putting on a 'brave face' for her loved ones.
Two other people suffered 'non-life-threatening injuries' during the incident, which sparked a major emergency service response at the school and saw an air ambulance deployed to treat the wounded.
![Liz Hopkin, who works as a special needs teacher, was injured in Wednesday's incident but has been released from hospital today](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/14/84054301-13348807-Liz_Hopkin_who_works_as_a_special_needs_teacher_was_injured_and_-a-45_1714051588228.jpg)
Liz Hopkin, who works as a special needs teacher, was injured in Wednesday's incident but has been released from hospital today
![Pictured: Police outside the school where the attack occurred yesterday. A 13-year-old girl has been charged with three counts of attempted murder](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/09/84072141-13348807-image-a-16_1714035486366.jpg)
Pictured: Police outside the school where the attack occurred yesterday. A 13-year-old girl has been charged with three counts of attempted murder
![Dyffryn Aman School was put into lockdown following the incident, which saw three people incur 'non-life-threatening injuries'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/10/84070947-13348807-Children_at_Ysgol_Dyffryn_Aman_pictured_have_been_told_to_stay_a-a-33_1714036807765.jpg)
Dyffryn Aman School was put into lockdown following the incident, which saw three people incur 'non-life-threatening injuries'
Mrs Hopkin is believed to have been airlifted to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, which is home to a major trauma centre for the region.
Her husband John said on Thursday that she suffered one wound to the neck, two in the back and one in her knee as she tried to intervene in an attack on a pupil.
He said: 'They are all serious wounds - she was cleaned up and had stitches put in.
'She's weak, pretty ill actually and in pain but she's putting a brave face on it.
'She's got at least a few weeks before the wounds heal and she can think about going back to school.'
Mr Hopkin said his wife had been informed that the 13-year-old girl pupil had been charged with attempted murder on her, another teacher and a girl pupil.
He said: 'I don't really want to talk about that - I don't know the girl.'
A family source told MailOnline today: 'She's home, (She was) picked up from the hospital yesterday.
'Her injuries are serious but she will recover. But we are very grateful she's okay.'
Elsewhere, the teacher's husband said her injuries had been severe following the attack at the secondary school.
John told The Telegraph it would take 'a fair few weeks' for her injuries to heal, adding: 'I work with her. It was quite frightening. I'd rather not go into it. She went off in the helicopter [to the hospital] and I drove there.
'She's very shaken, very concerned about the kids that were around and the other members of staff and children who were there.'
And he added to The Times: 'She's come home — once they stitched her up they said there's no point in keeping her in hospital.'
He declined to provide details of how the attack unfolded, saying: 'I'm not going to, no. The police don't want to say anything.'
![A forensic scene of crime officer at Amman Valley (Dyffryn Aman) School on Wednesday after a 13-year-old girl was arrested](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/19/84097639-13351021-image-a-14_1714070277472.jpg)
A forensic scene of crime officer at Amman Valley (Dyffryn Aman) School on Wednesday after a 13-year-old girl was arrested
![The school will remain closed into Friday as police continue their investigations into Wednesday's incident](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/19/84097643-13351021-image-a-15_1714070325716.jpg)
The school will remain closed into Friday as police continue their investigations into Wednesday's incident
![An ambulance support unit outside the school on Wednesday after it entered lockdown. Pupils heard a 'code red' alert over the school's PA system](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/19/84097635-13351021-image-a-16_1714070356459.jpg)
An ambulance support unit outside the school on Wednesday after it entered lockdown. Pupils heard a 'code red' alert over the school's PA system
The girl was charged with three counts of attempted murder on Thursday afternoon.
Michael Cray, senior crown prosecutor with CPS Cymru-Wales, said: 'The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Dyfed-Powys police to charge a girl in connection with the stabbing of three people at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman yesterday.
'Prosecutors from CPS Cymru-Wales authorised the charges following a review of a file of evidence from Dyfed-Powys police.
'A youth who cannot be named for legal reasons has been charged with three counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article on a school premises.
'The incident occurred at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, a comprehensive school in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, on Wednesday 24 April 2024. The youth has been remanded in custody to appear before Llanelli magistrates court tomorrow.'
A 15-year-old boy was arrested later on Wednesday after police received reports about messages on social media referring to the stabbing.
MailOnline understands the boy is the brother of the 13-year-old charged today. Police have not confirmed the link.
Police executed a warrant at the boy's home, in the nearby Cross Hands area, and recovered a BB gun.
Superintendent Ross Evans, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said the boy remained in custody.
Mr Evans said: 'While this investigation is being run separately to our inquiries into events at the school, our officers are seeking to establish if there was a connection between the alleged offences.
'Again, I would urge people not to speculate, not to share any images or videos relating to either investigation, and to allow us to carry out our inquiries fully.'
![Police and worried parents waiting at the school gates of Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, also known as Amman Valley School, after an alleged multiple stabbing](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/10/84033589-13348807-Police_and_worried_parents_waiting_at_the_school_gates_of_Ysgol_-a-34_1714036824331.jpg)
Police and worried parents waiting at the school gates of Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, also known as Amman Valley School, after an alleged multiple stabbing
![One parent said: 'This is a quiet area and a nice school with a good community. We just can't figure out what has gone on'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/10/84038609-13348807-One_parent_said_This_is_a_quiet_area_and_a_nice_school_with_a_go-a-35_1714036828599.jpg)
One parent said: 'This is a quiet area and a nice school with a good community. We just can't figure out what has gone on'
Locals remain on high alert after police raced to Dyffryn Aman secondary school in Ammanford yesterday.
Alongside Mrs Hopkin, Head of Year Seven Fiona Elias was also injured. Rugby teacher Darrel Campbell stepped in to restrain the alleged assailant until police arrived.
A schoolgirl witness said: 'Everyone was running. Mr Campbell arrived on the scene and put her in an arm lock and got the knife off her.'
The south-west Wales school went into lockdown after a 'code red' alarm sounded through the PA system, during which students and staff are said to have hidden in classrooms - with one pupil reportedly vaulting the school fence to get to safety.
The lockdown lasted around four hours between 11.20am and 3.20pm, resulting in a lengthy and anxious wait for parents who were seen tearfully hugging their children after they walked through the gates.
They have now been told to stay at home while police investigate the horrific attack.
While online lessons will continue, the school will stay closed for in-person teaching on Friday, Carmarthenshire County Council has said.
The school's headteacher James Durbridge praised staff and pupils for their 'calm and mature' response.
On the school's website, Mr Durbridge said: 'Today (Wednesday) has been a very difficult day. It goes without saying that my thoughts are with the three individuals and their families, who have been affected by today's incident.
'We are proud to have witnessed pupils embodying the school's core values while supporting their peers and staff.
'I wish to commend all staff and pupils for their calm and mature response during today's lockdown.'
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/14/84030971-13348807-image-a-47_1714051648311.jpg)
![An aerial view of the scene following the alleged Ysgol Dyffryn Aman (Aman Valley School) stabbing](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/14/84042233-13348807-An_aerial_view_of_the_scene_following_the_Ysgol_Dyffryn_Aman_Ama-a-48_1714051672738.jpg)
An aerial view of the scene following the alleged Ysgol Dyffryn Aman (Aman Valley School) stabbing
He added that the school's 1,500 pupils could get 'wellbeing support' if they were affected by what they saw in the playground.
Mr Campbell, the teacher who ran in to subdue the alleged attacker, 'does not think of himself as a hero', his brother said today.
Cefin Campbell, the Senedd member for Mid and West Wales, said: 'He's embarrassed by all the attention that he's had - he certainly doesn't consider himself a hero in any way.
'He just told me he just did what most people would have done - he acted instinctively, he saw the danger and took action.
'He really wants to play down anything more than just being a normal citizen, albeit a teacher in a school facing a very challenging situation.'
Darrel Campbell, who has worked at the school for around 40 years, officially retired last year but was brought back on a part-time basis to help provide pastoral care.
Both he and his brother attended the school as pupils.
Cefin Campbell said he expected his brother would return to work when the school reopens.
He added: 'The school is closed today so he's off but he has every intention of going back whenever the school reopens.
![Teacher Darrel Campbell (pictured, left) is said to have intervened to bring the incident to a close](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/14/84044733-13348807-Teacher_Darrel_Campbell_pictured_is_said_to_have_intervened_to_w-a-44_1714051574144.jpg)
Teacher Darrel Campbell (pictured, left) is said to have intervened to bring the incident to a close
![Drama and Welsh teacher Fiona Elias was also revealed to be among the three needing treatment for non-life threatening injuries](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/14/84047987-13348807-Drama_and_Welsh_teacher_Fiona_Elias_was_revealed_to_be_among_the-a-46_1714051619804.jpg)
Drama and Welsh teacher Fiona Elias was also revealed to be among the three needing treatment for non-life threatening injuries
'He wants to be there, with the other staff members, to support each other and to support the pupils that are under their care.
'He's taken that role very seriously throughout his life and he will go back to make sure that the pupils are in a good place.'
The politician said Darrel Campbell had been 'shaken by the whole experience as have all the staff, pupils, parents and so on'.
He went on to say: 'I think it's the sense of shock because he's been there for 40 years as teacher - he's never ever seen anything like this.
'I think that hits home to people that it should happen in a place like this.'