Sir Sadiq Khan has issued an urgent appeal in the wake of Tuesday’s stabbing at a northwest London school.

In a statement, the London Mayor said: “My thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community in Brent following the appalling stabbings today.

“This awful violence as absolutely no place in our city.

“A suspect has been arrested and I am in close contact with the Met as they investigate this terrible incident.”

Sir Sadiq added: “The Met have deployed significant resources to the area and I urge anyone with information to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

“There is no honour in staying silent.”

Two boys, aged 12 and 13, were stabbed at Kingsbury High School Lower School on Bacon Lane in Brent at 12.40pm.

The pair have been left in a life-threatening condition in hospital.

Witnesses said the 13-year-old suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar” as he stabbed the victims in the back and neck, according to the Mail.

A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, with the police recovering a weapon which believed to have been used in the stabbing.

While the attack has not been declared a terrorist incident, detectives said the incident is now being led by officers from Counter Terrorism Policing London, “who are working closely with our local officers”.

Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, speaking at the school, said both victims were in a “serious” condition and were receiving “urgent care”.

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He added that police were keeping an open mind as to what the attacker’s motivations could be.

One father of a pupil said children at the school were “traumatised by what happened in front of them”.

Parents and pupils, some of whom were in tears, remained in the school as late as 7.35pm after being spoken to by police.

The father, whose Year Eight child was held in the school as a potential witness, said: “They’re holding up the kids who were in the class.”

Another woman said her sister was in a next-door classroom when the attack started.

She said: “They heard screaming and crying. Our parents are travelling and they saw it on the news and were so worried.

“My brother was really scared to go back to school. How can you after a stabbing?”

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said her thoughts and prayers are with the two victims.

In a statement, she said: “My thoughts and my prayers are with them, their families and all those affected.

“The police have arrested the suspect, and I would like to thank them for their rapid work in doing so. We must now give them the space to pursue their investigation.”