Girl, 13, knifed in playground

She suffered serious injuries to her leg and chest after being attacked with a six-inch pocket knife by a boy police believe may be from a gang involved in a feud over the sale of LSD.

Teenagers claim she was singled out as she left the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Secondary School in Camberwell at 4pm yesterday because she is the girlfriend of a 16-year-old in a rival gang.

An 18-year-old former gang member, who did not want to be named, said: "Her boyfriend is in a gang and another gang came to get her.

"That's what they do - they get the people you love because it hurts more. There will be more trouble down here because of this."

A Metropolitan police spokesman said: "Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended the scene and a 13-year-old girl was taken to a local hospital suffering stab wounds - believed to be not life threatening. No arrests have been made."

Teachers at the school in Camberwell New Road were breaking the news to pupils today as most were on the other side of the building when the attack happened and were told to go home.

Parents with children at the 667-pupil school - which specialises in foreign languages and was described as "outstanding" by Ofsted a year ago - spoke of their shock.

"It's a lovely school," said one mother. "I've not heard of any trouble before. Everyone is very nice and my son is really happy there."

The former gang member added: "The gangs want to get back at each other. Most people round here carry a pocket knife. I'm not surprised this has happened. This is neutral territory where all the gangs from Brixton and Peckham come to fight."

The knife attack echoes the murder of talented teenage footballer Kiyan Prince, who was stabbed to death outside the gates of his school, the London Academy in Edgware, in May 2006.

Kiyan, 15, a youth team player for QPR, was killed by 17-year-old Hannad Hasan, who was suspended from the school at the time. Hasan was found guilty of Kiyan's murder at the Old Bailey last July and was given a life sentence.

Statistics obtained by the Evening Standard yesterday revealed that on average five children are being injured in gun and knife attacks in London every day.

The figures, obtained under Freedom of Information rules, reveal a frightening snapshot of teenage crime in an eight-month period last year.

From 1 April to 30 November, a total of 1,273 victims under the age of 20 suffered injuries in gun and knife attacks.

Many were victims of gang violence. The figures came amid mounting concern over the number of teenagers murdered in London.

Two have died this year already while 27 were killed last year, the highest total ever.

Southwark education authority declined to comment on the stabbing of the girl yesterday, saying it was a police matter.