Aberdeen school stabbing: teenager charged over death of schoolboy

A 16-year-old boy has been charged over the death of Bailey Gwynne, who was stabbed at Cults Academy in Aberdeen.

Gwynne, also 16, was rushed to hospital after the incident yesterday afternoon, but later died from his injuries.

Police Scotland confirmed that an unnamed teenager has been charged over the incident and is due to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Friday, the BBC reports.

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"A full and thorough inquiry has been launched and there will be a police presence in the area for the foreseeable future," Chief Inspector Graeme Mackie said in a statement.

He added: "We are working closely with the education authorities and wider community as I am sure this incident will be felt not only in Aberdeen but much further afield."

Head teacher Anna Muirhead described Gwynne as a "very gentle" and "caring" boy with lots of friends, and said pupils and staff were in a "state of total shock". "I think it is fair to say the whole school community is totally devastated but at the moment, of course, our thoughts are with the boy's family," she said.

The school, in an affluent suburb of Aberdeen, is the city's largest and best-performing state school.

It has been cordoned off and will remain closed for the rest of the week as witnesses assist the police with their investigation. Counselling services have been made available to staff and pupils.

Classmates laid flowers and messages outside the school and attended a candlelit vigil in Aberdeen last night. The local church was also open to those affected by the tragedy, the BBC reports.

Tributes for Gwynne poured in across social media, with one girl tweeting: "School is supposed to be one of [the] safest places we attend as teenagers, what a horrible day #RIPBailey."

Another wrote: "Words can't describe how upset I am, thoughts go out to your family, memories with you will certainly never be forgotten."