Moment masked teenager chases after a terrified student with a machete before the college is put into lockdown as police continue hunt for knifeman

Published: 20:49 EDT, 2 October 2026 | Updated: 20:49 EDT, 2 October 2026 A student has been chased around a school by a masked attacker carrying what appeared to be a machete.Students at John Ruskin College in Croydon, south London, and the nearby Quest Academy were kept inside their classrooms on Wednesday after reports of someone carrying a bladed weapon around 5pm.Footage showed a masked attacker dressed in black wielding what looked to be a blade while chasing a teenager across the college.Pupils and staff stood nearby before the alleged attacker ran off the grounds with the weapon before police arrived around 5.10pm.A pupil, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: 'I noticed this person waiting outside the smoking area.'As soon as another person came out of the building, the person with the knife went off on them.'I felt fearful; I thought: "Oh my god, how is this happening."'I thought school was a safe place, and then this happened.' A masked person dressed in black was filmed carrying what appeared to be a machete in a Croydon school on Wednesday The person ran off school grounds before police arrived shortly after 5pmA Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'Around 17:08hrs, officers attended a college in Selsdon Park Road, Croydon, following reports that a person had been seen with a bladed weapon.'Police attended, but, by the time they arrived, the suspect had left the scene.'No arrests have been made, and officers are seeking to locate the suspect, who is believed to be a teenager.'No injuries were reported, and the college was temporarily placed on lockdown while officers made enquiries.'This has now been lifted.'The suspect is believed to be a teenager and police continued to search for them.John Ruskin College said it staged a 'precautionary lockdown following a security incident on campus grounds'.'The situation was managed swiftly by College staff in partnership with the police, and the College has resumed normal operations.'The safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and visitors remains our highest priority. We would like to thank our students, staff and the police for their cooperation and professionalism throughout the incident.'As this matter is subject to ongoing police enquiries, we are unable to provide any further comment at this time. We thank you for your cooperation on this matter.'Quest Academy said it also went into lockdown as a precaution during the incident.An academy spokesman said: 'Pupils were allowed to leave as soon as the school was given the all-clear.'