Both had undergone surgery, a spokesman for the police in the Olpe district of the state of North Rhine Westphalia in western Germany said on Tuesday. “At the moment it looks like the two pupils are out of danger,” he added.

On Monday afternoon, three pupils were stabbed at a comprehensive school in the Olpe district town of Finnentrop, two of them critically.

Two suspects – also pupils – were temporarily arrested.

All five were male and between 16 and 17 years old, the police spokesperson said.

A knife was presumed to be the weapon used in the attack. A homicide squad is investigating.

The school administration expressed its dismay in a statement on the school’s website. “This incident has deeply shaken us all and caused uncertainty,” the headmaster wrote.

He added that it would not simply be business as usual at the school on Tuesday.

Pupils, students and teachers will be offered support to come to terms with what they have experienced. School social workers and a counselling teacher are available for talks, according to the school administration.

In the course of the morning, three staff members of the school psychology service of the Olpe district will join them.