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Machete, baseball bat attack at high school

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FIVE youths armed with baseball bats and a machete may have been seeking revenge when they allegedly attacked a high school and its students today, police say.

A teacher was hit over the head as he tried to stop five teenagers during their rampage through Merrylands High School at 8.50am (AEST) today, police said.

The teacher was taken to hospital and 18 students were injured during the teenagers` rampage, which also left windows smashed.

When asked if the attack was possible retribution, Detective Inspector Jim Stewart said: "Possibly.

"The information to us is they were coming here ... seeking someone," he said on Macquarie radio.

But Det-Insp Stewart said police had not established the exact motive for the attack.

"We`re a bit confounded as to the reasons why," he said on Fairfax radio.

A male teacher was taken to hospital with bruising to the back of his head while trying to restrain one of the youths, the Ambulance Service of NSW said.

The attack left 18 students injured, most with cuts and abrasions from broken glass, although one girl was taken to hospital with a swollen cheek after allegedly being assaulted by one of the teenagers.

Police said five youths, all aged between 14 and 16, allegedly entered the school via the main gate on Sherwood Road and stormed an assembly in an outdoor quadrangle.

The intruders allegedly approached the assembly while brandishing baseball bats and a machete, prompting teachers to lock down the school.

Students were locked inside their classrooms for safety, police said.

The boys allegedly ran through the corridors of two school buildings smashing every window they could find, showering students with glass.

When police confronted the youths, they dropped their weapons and did not resist arrest.

They were today being questioned at Merrylands police station and are likely to face charges of assault, affray and malicious damage.

Det-Insp Stewart said he was stunned by the brazenness of the incident.

"It beggars belief they would attempt this kind of activity against innocent students at the end," he said.

By 11am (AEST), parents were outside the school, hoping for news of their children locked inside.

One man, Darren, whose 13-year-old son attends the school, said he had seen the boys enter the school but did not realise what they were about to do.

He said he was given little information about his son`s welfare.

"My heart`s still pumping, I was really worried," he said.

Many others argued with police and school officials about the lack of information.

The father of a Year 7 student said he was furious about hearing about the incident second-hand through the media.

"A little bit of information would go a long way," he said.

By lunchtime, small groups of students were leaving the school with their parents, but the process was slow as students` families lined up outside the school to give their details to police before being allowed to enter.

The NSW Department of Education apologised for the delays but said it was justified, as parents` credentials had to be verified.

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