Teenager arrested after East Lothian school locked down over reports of youth with BB gun

A teenager has been arrested after an East Lothian school was locked down over reports of a youth in possession of a BB gun.

Officers attended Knox Academy in Haddington around 9.55am on Friday after the secondary school went into lockdown over reports of a youth with an alleged weapon in the school grounds.

East Lothian Council said staff acted quickly to ensure the safety of all pupils and parents were informed of the lockdown.

Police arrested a 15-year-old youth in connection with the incident and enquiries are said to be ongoing.

There is not said to be any wider threat to the school or members of the public.

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: “We can confirm that police were called to Knox Academy in Haddington this morning as we had reports of a pupil in the grounds of the school with what appeared to be a BB Gun.

“School staff quickly followed established procedures and the school was placed in ‘lockdown’ to ensure the safety of all pupils and staff while Police Scotland responded to the incident.

“Parents were informed via our GroupCall system that a lockdown was in place but that pupils were safe.

“We were able to reassure parents shortly afterwards that the incident had been dealt with and that pupils were all safe and had been released for their morning break.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 9.55am on Friday, February 21, 2025, police were called to a secondary school in Haddington following a report of a youth in possession of what was believed to be a BB Gun in the grounds of the school.

“A 15-year-old youth has been arrested and enquiries are continuing.

“There is no ongoing threat to the school nor the public.”