Bulletproof Vests Made For Schoolchildren

Bulletproof vests and a range of protective wear have been designed for children in the wake of the Connecticut school shooting.

Miguel Caballero, a Colombian bulletproof vest and clothing company, unveiled the line after numerous calls from "scared" parents in the US who were worried about taking their children to school after the massacre.

President of the company, Miguel Caballero, said: "Since the incident in Connecticut they've been calling us asking for a solution in the product and a solution for the kids.

"We've been investigating what's in the market and have seen what was in the market and that's where the idea came from."

The line includes a safety vest that could be kept at schools and slipped on at the first sign of danger.

Mr Caballero said there is: "A vest called the 'Safety Vest', which would basically be in the school and the students could get them so that this way a teacher could tell them to put it on at the start of an incident, like when you are on a boat and they tell you to put on a life vest. So we are thinking about the pre, post and during the incident."

Twenty children and six adults were gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14 - sparking worldwide outrage and demands for tougher gun control.

Mr Caballero said paediatricians were consulted and tests undertaken before the line was created to see what would happen to a child at receiving an impact.

The protective wear includes backpacks, undershirts, puffy vests, and is designed to appear as close to normal clothing as possible.

The Miguel Caballero website lists certifications for its ballistic developments from organisations from around the world including America's National Institute of Justice.