Two children have been killed and nine injured, six critically, in a “ferocious” knife attack at a children’s dance workshop.
Two adults are also in a critical condition after being stabbed as they tried to protect children at the Taylor Swift-themed event on Hart Street in Southport, Merseyside Police said.
A 17-year-old boy, from Banks in Lancashire, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. Police said the motivation for the attack was “unclear” but it was not being treated as terror-related.
One witness described the scene as “horrendous” and that they had “never seen anything like it”.
The King and the Prime Minister have led tributes to the victims, expressing their “heartfelt condolences” to everyone involved.
Merseyside Police declared a major incident after receiving emergency calls at 11.47 BST, on what was the first full week of school summer vacation for many children in the UK.
Armed response vehicles, 13 ambulances, and firefighters rushed to the dance class for children aged six to ten.
During a news conference, Chief Constable Serena Kennedy stated that officers responded to a “ferocious attack” on a group of children attending a Taylor Swift event at a dance school, resulting in serious injuries.
“We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked.” She added:
“As a mum of two daughters, and the nana of a five-year-old granddaughter, I cannot begin to imagine the pain and suffering the families of the victims are currently going through and I want to send them our heartfelt condolences and sympathies”. Ms Kennedy said the 17-year-old suspect, who police said was born in Cardiff, will now be questioned by detectives.
Merseyside Police said it was not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack and that the “motivation for the incident remains unclear”. Ms Kennedy added that Counter Terrorism Police North West had offered their support to Merseyside Police but that the incident was not currently being treated as terror-related.
According to journalist Tim Johnson of Eye on Southport, the incident occurred at the Hope of Hart children’s club, which is located in a derelict warehouse building on a back street.
“It was horrible. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Mr Johnson stated.
“There were so many police cars; it was a sea of blue lights. I saw ambulance men and women in tears. “People were in tears on the streets.”
The North West Ambulance Service dispatched 13 ambulances to the scene of a “major incident” at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
The ambulance service treated 11 casualties on-site and transported them to Alder Hey and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospitals, Aintree University Hospital, Southport and Formby District General Hospital, and Ormskirk District General Hospital via emergency ambulance and helicopter.
He described the scene that met paramedics as “devastating”, adding, “no doubt this incident will have a lasting impact on the whole community, and our thoughts are very much with them at this difficult time”. Great North Air Ambulance Service confirmed its critical care team was also sent to the scene. A spokesman added: “We delivered advanced emergency care to one patient before accompanying them to hospital by road.”
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