LOWELL, Mass. (WHDH) — An 11-year-old boy in Lowell is facing charges after police said he stabbed an officer with a knife.

The boy’s mother told 7News he was trying to defend himself from a group of older teenagers in the neighborhood. She said they have been bullying her son since the family moved to Lowell six months ago.

On Sunday night, the boy’s mother said the group of teens chased him back to his home on Read Street, where they terrorized her son and vandalized her car. She said she then called 911.

“My son called me downstairs and said they’re in my car, vandalizing my car. So I came downstairs to try to settle everything and in the midst of that, my son was trying to tell me one of the kids came into the house. That’s when he grabbed the knife to protect himself,” said the boy’s mother.

When police arrived, officers said the boy ran out of the house with a knife. When an officer tried to intervene, police said the boy cut the officer in the right hand and left arm. He was taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released.

The boy was arraigned Monday in juvenile court for assault and battery and assault and battery on a police officer. The boy’s mother said she does not approve of her son’s behavior but said the behavior of the teens bullying him has gotten out of control.

“I’m just upset with this town. Period. I’m sorry,” said the boy’s mother.

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