Machete incident prompts lockdown at Royal Leamington Spa College

A 17-year-old boy was arrested after a pupil pulled a machete during a confrontation at Royal Leamington Spa College in Warwickshire, prompting a campus lockdown. A 39-second video circulating on social media appears to show a student drawing a blade from his jogging bottoms and striking at another pupil inside a busy student social area. The clip was posted on X by Turning Point UK, a group linked to a U.S.-based student movement. The video has not been independently verified, and authorities cautioned that releases of unverified footage can shape perceptions before investigations are complete.

Warwickshire Police said they were urgently seeking to verify the footage and had not yet confirmed its authenticity. A 17-year-old male was arrested at his home on suspicion of attempted wounding and possession of an offensive weapon. Two other boys were arrested outside the college on suspicion of violent disorder as officers conducted their investigation. No injuries were reported at the time, and police said there was no indication of a broader risk to the community."