Plan B Forum

School children from Blaenau Gwent were caught up in a dramatic armed incident while on a trip in the United States.



One pupil from Tredegar Comprehensive School was on the phone to her mother when police shot an armed man as he tried to enter the US Capitol Building visitor centre in Washington.

Lisa Reardon told BBC Radio Wales how her daughter, Chelsea, began screaming down the phone, "he's got a gun".

The school said all pupils and staff "are safe".

Police called the shooting an "isolated" incident.

Ms Reardon paid tribute to the way teachers dealt with children, including her 16-year-old daughter.

"The next minute she is screaming down the phone to me saying, 'he's got a gun, he's got a gun'," she said.

"The first thing that goes through my head is what the hell is going on.

"Even though I'm panicking, I'm trying to calm her down as well, saying, you have to listen to the teacher.



"Everything was going through my mind. I felt more useless than anything."

A female bystander suffered minor injuries when police fired at the suspect.

Ms Reardon said: "The teachers were amazing for looking after them and reassuring them. They are carrying on with their trip. It is not going to stop them.

"I can't wait for her to come home on Thursday."

Tredegar Comprehensive School said all pupils and staff were safe, that it had spoken to parents to reassure them and the trip was "continuing as planned".

Chairman of governors at the school, councillor John Morgan, said: "We are just relieved that all the pupils and the staff are safe and happy and able to continue with this amazing trip, which is part of their history and arts studies.

"The staff, who are experienced at travelling with pupils on school trips, were extremely professional in caring for and supporting the pupils .

"I know that parents have been quick in expressing their gratitude for this."

Lord Jim wrote:Well, I take your point, but if one of my children were on a tour group that was visiting Parliament in the UK, and there was a shooting incident at the entrance point that involved no innocent person being injured, I wouldn't expect the headline for the story to read:

"School Children From The Outer Sunset District Of San Francisco Caught Up In Dramatic Armed Incident"

I'd expect something more along the lines of:

"Shot Fired To Subdue Armed Man In Front Of Parliament; No One Hurt"....

School children from San Francisco were caught up in a dramatic police action while on a trip in Wales.

One pupil from Balboa High School was on the phone to her mother when police hit a man over the head with a billy club as he tried to enter a government building.

Lisa Reardon told KGO Radio how her daughter, Chelsea, began screaming into the phone, "An unknown man is trying to walk into the building and the cops are hitting him over the head with one of those sticks that the cops over here carry!!".

The school said all pupils and staff "are safe" but they're really shook up and stuff.

A police spokesman said that the man was not a terrorist. "He was a drunk Welshman... I mean.. you know... a Welshman", said the spokesman.

"The next minute Chelsea is screaming and saying, 'The cop has a big stick, he's got a big stick'," Reardon said.

"The first thing that goes through my head is what the hell is going on.

"Even though I'm panicking, I'm trying to calm her down as well, saying, you need to stand back and watch – maybe take a video for YouTube."

A female bystander farted when police clobbered the suspect and it was caught on YouTube.

Balboa High School said all pupils and staff were safe and that it had spoken to parents to reassure them that their kids wouldn't miss lunch.

Joe Guy wrote:Here's a similar article from "Incredibly Sheltered People" magazine.

A Federal Protective Force Finally Manages To Get One Right

Lord Jim wrote:Ahh, the BBC...

Well I guess I shouldn't be surprised by the provincialism, given the sort of questions that pass for "news" in their "Weekly News Quiz"...


" In an appearance that has tongues wagging up and down Fleet Street, The Duchess Of Cambridge this week appeared at a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new Local Council building at Ludlow in Shropshire wearing a hat of a colour that clashed terribly with her dress. The offending hat was:

A. Mauve
B.Chartreuse
C. Yellow with pink polka dots"

Yes, but you live in the USA, where shootings are more common than kisses. For people from civilised lands, being anywhere near a shooting is a major incident.

Lord Jim wrote:Ahh, the BBC...

Well I guess I shouldn't be surprised by the provincialism, given the sort of questions that pass for "news" in their "Weekly News Quiz"...


" In an appearance that has tongues wagging up and down Fleet Street, The Duchess Of Cambridge this week appeared at a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new Local Council building at Ludlow in Shropshire wearing a hat of a colour that clashed terribly with her dress. The offending hat was:

A. Mauve
B.Chartreuse
C. Yellow with pink polka dots"

MajGenl.Meade wrote:As was shown in the original story BBC WALES - BBC WALES - BBC WALES. That is to the BBC as the Toledo Mudhens are to the World Series