The private school where water polo coach Lilie James was murdered was plunged into emergency lockdown after a male intruder entered one of its buildings and threatened staff.
St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Sydney’s CBD was locked down by police on Monday morning after the break-in by a man who ‘threatened staff and then returned to the campus’.
The male entered the school’s Bishop Barry Centre in Druitt Street, which is part of the campus of St Andrews near Sydney Town Hall.
Parents were alerted to the lockdown by a text message from the school, and police have now arrested a 46-year-old man.
About 12pm, officers attached to Surry Hills Police Area Command were called to a hotel in Surry Hills for a man acting erratically and refusing to leave the premises. Police attended and arrested him.
On October 25, 2023, St Andrews staff member Lilie James was murdered with a hammer by fellow sports coach, Paul Thijssen, in a toilet near the school’s staff room.
Thijssen then either fell or jumped taking his own life off a cliff at Vaucluse in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

The private school where water polo coach Lilie James was murdered has been plunged into emergency lockdown after an intruder entered one of its buildings

Police have conducted a sweep of the school after the report of an intruder, but the campus remained in lockdown
Parents of pupils at St Andrews school have been informed that ‘everyone is safe’ after police conducted a sweep of the buildings, but the school remains on high alert.
NSW Police issued a statement on Monday morning, saying that ‘a police operation at a school in Sydney’s CBD has now concluded.
‘Officers from Sydney City Police Area Command attended about 9.45am today (Monday 19 May 2025), after reports a man had earlier threatened staff and since returned to the campus.
‘The school was placed in locked down and a search of the building, on the corner of Druitt and Kent Streets, was conducted with the assistance of specialist resources.
‘Despite an extensive search of the grounds, the man could not be located, and the lockdown was lifted.
‘An investigation is now underway into the incident, and inquiries continue to locate the man.’
St Andrews school has issued a statement saying the man who entered an external area of the campus was ‘disorientated’ and left ‘a minute later’.
‘The school can confirm that there was no threat of violence and no one was harmed during the incident, and thanks its staff and the NSW Police for their professional and calm response.’
NSW Police said ‘inquiries are continuing’ with the man taken into custody over the incident.