A 28-year-old primary school teacher in Byron Bay has undergone surgery after the mother of a student allegedly stabbed him with a pair of scissors, before fleeing the school grounds, early on Tuesday morning.
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Zane Vockler, a teacher at Byron Bay Public School, was in conversation with the mother of a student around 7.20am when she allegedly launched at him with a pair of scissors, causing cuts to his arms and face.
It is unclear what led to the stabbing incident.
Police were immediately called to the school on Kingsley Street, Byron Bay, however not before the 36-year-old woman fled, prompting a police search in the area.
Officers from the Tweed Byron Police District established a crime scene at the school, which was placed into lockdown until shortly before 11am. The school is now operating as normal.
Mr Vockler was treated at the scene before being taken to Byron Central Hospital with cuts to his arms and face. He has since been transferred to Tweed Hospital to undergo surgery in a stable condition.
One source said he had been working at the school since about 2015.
About 10.30am police arrested the 36-year-old woman at a home on Beach Side Drive, Suffolk Park.
She is currently being interviewed by police, with charges expected later on Tuesday
When contacted by the Herald, the school declined to comment, referring all media enquiries to the Department of Education.
A spokesman for the department said the incident involving the staff member occurred before school started on Tuesday.
"Strict security measures were taken until police confirmed it was safe for the school to operate as normal," the spokesman said.
"Counselling has been made available to staff and students. All further inquiries about the incident should be directed to NSW Police."
Parents of children at the school gathered at the school gates on Tuesday morning. It is not believed there were many children, if any, at the school at the time of the stabbing.
- SMH/The Age
