Teenager, 18, is charged with Crawley College attack after ‘gunman armed with knife’ stormed campus and ‘fired blank rounds’ leaving two teachers injured
- Sandijs Dreimanis, 18, charged two days after incident at college in West Sussex
- Charge of possession of imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence
- He is also charged with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm
- Faces further charge of possession of a bladed article on a school premises
- Dreimanis has been remanded to appear at Crawley Magistrates’ Court today
A teenager has been charged two days after an armed incident at Crawley College.
Sandijs Dreimanis, 18, who is from the West Sussex town, faces a charge of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
He has also been charged with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and possession of a bladed article on a school premises.
Dreimanis is expected to appear in court today, two days after students and staff were evacuated with their hands on their heads after shots rang out at the college.
The heroics of one teacher and their colleague, who were injured tackling an armed suspect, were lauded by police and the college praised the emergency services.
Sandijs Dreimanis, 18, has been charged following the incident at Crawley College on Monday
Armed police at the scene of the incident at Crawley College in West Sussex on Monday
Local officers were liaising with counter-terror specialists on Monday evening but later announced that it was not being treated as a terrorist incident.
Dreimanis has been remanded to appear at Crawley Magistrates’ Court later today.
A Sussex Police spokesman said this morning: ‘Police investigating an incident at Crawley College on Monday, April 26 have charged a man with multiple offences.
‘Shortly after 3.10pm, police received reports of shots being fired at the site in College Road. Officers swiftly responded to the scene, where the suspect had been detained by two college employees; a teacher and a member of support staff.
Armed police at the scene of the incident at Crawley College in West Sussex on Monday
‘A blank firing handgun and a knife were seized, and at 3.20pm an 18-year-old man from Crawley was arrested.
‘Two people sustained minor injuries – not gunshot wounds – and presented themselves to a walk-in medical centre. Thankfully, no other injuries were reported.
‘Sandijs Dreimanis, 18, of Barton Walk in Crawley, has been charged with possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and possession of a bladed article on a school premises.
‘He has been remanded to appear at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, April 28.
Armed police at the scene of the incident at Crawley College in West Sussex on Monday
‘Police are treating this as an isolated incident which was not terror-related, and nobody else is being sought in connection with it.
‘Officers continue to work with the college and the local authority to manage the welfare and wellbeing of those involved, including students.
‘Anyone with any information can report it online or call 101, quoting Operation Reset.
‘Crawley College is assisting Sussex Police with its investigation, and has confirmed that the college will be closed until at least Thursday, April 29.’