Teacher who restrained Year 9 pupil 'as she stabbed two teachers and a student' at Ammanford school insists 'he did what most people would have done'
- Darrel Campbell is 'embarrassed by all the attention' after he stepped in
- Teacher does not see his actions as heroic as he put 'attacker' in armlock
- Girl, 13, charged with attempted murder as 15-year-old probed over 'threats'
The teacher who bravely restrained a teenage girl after she allegedly stabbed three people in a playground rampage 'doesn't see himself as a hero'.
Darrel Campbell was said to be 'embarrassed by all the attention' after he was praised for his quick-thinking actions at Amman Valley secondary school in south west Wales on Wednesday morning.
Earlier on Thursday prosecutors confirmed a 13-year-old girl had been charged with three counts of attempted murder following the incident, which plunged the school into lockdown as a 'red alert' sounded over its PA system.
Mr Campbell is said to have overpowered the alleged attacker and put her in an armlock. But his brother Cefin Campbell, Senedd member for Mid and West Wales, said the long-serving teacher 'acted instinctively'.
Dyfed-Powys Police said two female teachers and a schoolgirl injured in the attack had been discharged from hospital.
![Teacher Darrel Campbell (pictured, left) is said to have intervened to bring the incident to a close](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/21/84044733-13351217-Teacher_Darrel_Campbell_pictured_left_is_said_to_have_intervened-a-28_1714076758702.jpg)
Teacher Darrel Campbell (pictured, left) is said to have intervened to bring the incident to a close
![His brother Cefin Campbell (pictured), a member of the Senedd, said his brother was 'embarrassed by all the attention that he's had' for stepping in](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/20/84099135-13351217-image-a-5_1714073038192.jpg)
His brother Cefin Campbell (pictured), a member of the Senedd, said his brother was 'embarrassed by all the attention that he's had' for stepping in
![Police outside Ysgol Dyffryn Aman (Aman Valley School) in Carmarthenshire following an incident on Wednesday that saw two teachers and a pupil taken to hospital](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/20/84099833-13351217-image-a-15_1714074410245.jpg)
Police outside Ysgol Dyffryn Aman (Aman Valley School) in Carmarthenshire following an incident on Wednesday that saw two teachers and a pupil taken to hospital
![The school will remain closed into Friday as police continue their investigations into Wednesday's incident](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/20/84097643-13351217-The_school_will_remain_closed_into_Friday_as_police_continue_the-a-16_1714075019811.jpg)
The school will remain closed into Friday as police continue their investigations into Wednesday's incident
![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/2024/04/25/20/84097639-13351217-A_forensic_scene_of_crime_officer_at_Amman_Valley_Dyffryn_Aman_S-a-17_1714075023257.jpg)
A forensic scene of crime officer at Amman Valley (Dyffryn Aman) School on Wednesday after a 13-year-old girl was arrested
He 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 really wants to play down anything more than just being a normal citizen, albeit a teacher in a school facing a very challenging situation.'
The parliamentarian said there would be questions asked in the Senedd about security in schools across Wales.
'Let's hope it's a one off, but you just don't know the way the society has changed. We have to ask questions about the way we move forward,' he told BBC Radio Wales.
'We certainly don't want to go down the route of America but there are parts of the UK where bags are checked every day, there's metal detectors, as well as random checks by police.
'None of us want to go down that road but we've just obviously got to ask questions. What lessons can we learn from this?'
Mr Campbell worked at the school for around 40 years and officially retired last year but was brought back on a part-time basis to help provide pastoral care.
It is understood he plans to return to school when it reopens. Both Campbells went to the school as children.
Teacher Mr Campbell then spent Wednesday evening watching an Amman United rugby match, where he is club chairman.
A friend at the club said: 'Darrel is a no-nonsense guy, the sort of person you'd want with you in that sort of situation. But he's very modest, he won't make a big thing of it.'
![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/2024/04/25/20/84097635-13351217-An_ambulance_support_unit_outside_the_school_on_Wednesday_after_-a-18_1714075028160.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
![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/2024/04/25/21/84070947-13351217-Dyffryn_Aman_School_was_put_into_lockdown_following_the_incident-a-24_1714075267108.jpg)
Dyffryn Aman School was put into lockdown following the incident, which saw three people incur 'non-life-threatening injuries'
![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/2024/04/25/20/84072141-13351217-Pictured_Police_outside_the_school_where_the_attack_occurred_yes-a-20_1714075039312.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
![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/2024/04/25/20/84054301-13351217-Liz_Hopkin_who_works_as_a_special_needs_teacher_was_injured_in_W-a-21_1714075054813.jpg)
Liz Hopkin, who works as a special needs teacher, was injured in Wednesday's incident but has been released from hospital today
A 13-year-old 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 he is the brother of the 13-year-old girl charged, but police have declined to confirm the link, which was spoken of by several locals in the area.
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.
![Police are expected to conclude their investigations at the school today, with a girl set to appear in court tomorrow](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/20/84099835-13351217-image-a-22_1714075195915.jpg)
Police are expected to conclude their investigations at the school today, with a girl set to appear in court tomorrow
![Superintendent Ross Evans of Dyfed-Powys Police (pictured) said a 15-year-old boy remained in custody in connection with threats said to have been made online](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/21/84100861-13351217-image-a-23_1714075218641.jpg)
Superintendent Ross Evans of Dyfed-Powys Police (pictured) said a 15-year-old boy remained in custody in connection with threats said to have been made online
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.'
One of the stab victims, special needs teacher Liz Hopkin, was said to be recovering at home after being stabbed four times during the attack.
Her husband John told MailOnline 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 member told the Mail: 'She's home, her injuries are serious but she will recover. She is on a lot of painkillers. But we are very grateful she's okay.'
Her colleague, Fiona Elias, the head of Year 7, is also understood to be recuperating.
![Police speak to a man outside the school on Wednesday following the incident at Amman Valley School in Carmarthenshire](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/21/84097647-13351217-image-a-25_1714075310493.jpg)
Police speak to a man outside the school on Wednesday following the incident at Amman Valley School in Carmarthenshire
![A police officer stands behind a cordon at the school on Wednesday afternoon as enquiries got underway](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/25/21/84097645-13351217-image-a-26_1714075314038.jpg)
A police officer stands behind a cordon at the school on Wednesday afternoon as enquiries got underway
Amman Valley School - a bilingual comprehensive school for pupils aged between 11 and 18 - is maintained by Carmarthenshire County Council and provides education to 1,450 school pupils, in addition to 270 sixth form students.
While online lessons will continue, Amman Valley School in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, will stay closed for in-person teaching on Friday, Carmarthenshire County Council has said.
A council spokesperson said Dyfed Powys Police believe they are likely to conclude their investigation at the school by the end of the day on Thursday.
Whether the school will reopen on Monday has not been confirmed.
Councillor Darren Price, leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, said: 'On behalf of Carmarthenshire County Council, I would like to express our relief that the three injured individuals have been discharged from hospital and we wish them a speedy recovery.
'Yesterday's incident came as a great shock to everyone and I would like to recognise the excellent response of the staff and pupils at the school, council staff and all emergency services involved.
'I am humbled by the strength, resolve and determination by all involved to see our children return to their classrooms as soon as it is safe to do so.'