Arrest after reports of man “threatening people with a knife in Wath” - as police probe "vigilante attack" which left man in hospital

The 33-year-old man was detained on suspicion of affray following the incident on Wath Road, Brampton-Bierlow, on Tuesday night.

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said: “Officers are continuing to investigate this and other reports received yesterday afternoon that someone was seen with a knife in the area.

“However, we are not seeking anyone else in relation to these matters.”

Supt Andy Wright also issued a plea to the public “to avoid further speculation” after “members of the community appear to have taken to the law in to their own hands, which has led to significant disorder”, including a man being hospitalised with suspected broken legs. 

Posts were made on social media on yesterday by concerned parents saying that they had been asked to collect their children from Highfield Farm Primary School and Wath Central primaries as there had been “a substantial threat of a man saying he’s going to stab children in the area.” 

Jude Gray, head teacher at Wath Central, confirmed to the Advertiser that after liaising with the police, parents and carers had been told pupils attending the affected schools must be collected by a responsible adult on Wednesday and said they would be “operating protective close of school day routine” again today.   

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Posting on social media on late Wednesday evening, Supt Wright said: “Throughout today, we have responded to three reports about a man being seen with a knife in Wath, Rotherham. 

“Numerous resources responded to each report and a drone was deployed across the area, but were unable to locate anyone nearby.

“Ambulance crews then responded to a woman on Denman Road in Wath at 5.45pm after receiving reports she’d been stabbed. 

“The crew confirmed her injuries were due to a pre-existing medical condition and she had not suffered any stab wounds. 

“There appears to be no connection between this incident and the earlier reports.

“Following rumours on social media, members of the community appear to have taken to the law in to their own hands, which has led to significant disorder at an address on Wath Road. 

“As a result, one man is now in hospital with suspected broken legs.

“I would like to reassure the community that a high number of officers, including specialist resources, remain in the area. 

“Whilst I appreciate hearing things like this are incredibly concerning, I want to remind everyone to avoid further speculation and not take matters in to their own hands, while allowing us to carry out our enquiries.”

An increased number of officers will remain in the area today to offer reassurance, he said, adding: “We are working closely with schools to ensure parents and children feel safe.”

There was a police cordon in place today outside a house in Wath Road (above) and a police van stationed outside Wath Central Primary.

Jude Gray, head teacher at Wath Central, said: “Wath schools operating under the James Montgomery Academy Trust responded to several reports of an individual posing a risk of harm within the community yesterday.  

“In liaison with the police and to mitigate against that risk, our localised schools conducted a dynamic risk assessment and instructed parents and carers of pupils in attendance in the affected schools that pupils must be collected by a responsible adult.  

“Arrangements and messages were shared using each schools parental communication system.

“Given these recent events in the Wath community and the surrounding area and continued heightened anxiety, as a reactive model schools are operating protective close of school day routine today as they did yesterday.

“Pupils should be collected by a parent/carer or appropriate adult rather allowed to walk home alone.  

“From Friday, it is important that our schools revert to a typical operational status acknowledging that these localised incidents have been resolved.  

“We have accepted that anxieties are high within the community and therefore any non-attendance at James Montgomery Academy Trust schools within the locality today will be recorded without penalty.”

She added: “JMAT considers the safeguarding, safety and wellbeing of both its staff and pupils to be a priority and will continue to review its policy and procedures to accommodate for both national and localised matters of urgency or emergency.  

“We would like to take this opportunity of advising that JMAT policy does not condone the use of social media for use in sharing school/trust lead directives and instructions which are deployed to safeguard one another as this inevitably leads to inflaming rumour and supposition but ultimately also thank our parents and carers for their support shown over the last 24 hours.” 

Anyone with information or related footage about the investigation can be submitted through the police’s online portal  or shared by calling 101 with the incident number 527 of June 14.