By A stabbing at a children’s dance class in northwest England on Monday resulted in the deaths of two children and injuries to nine others, according to police. A 17-year-old boy was arrested, and a knife was seized after the bloody attack in Southport, near Liverpool.
Witnesses described seeing bloodied children running from a community center where a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga event for children aged 6 to 11 was taking place. The event, held in Southport, a seaside town near Liverpool, promised “a morning of Taylor Swift-themed yoga, dance, and bracelet making.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attack “horrendous and deeply shocking.”
Merseyside Police stated that officers were called at about noon to an address in Southport, a town of about 100,000 people. The incident was classified as a “major incident,” but police assured there was no wider threat to the public. Detectives do not consider the attack to be terror-related.
The suspect, who has not been identified, lived in a village about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the site of the attack, police said.
The North West Ambulance Service reported that medics treated eight people with stab injuries. The injured were taken to local hospitals, including a children’s hospital.
Bare Varathan, who owns a shop down the street, saw between seven and 10 bleeding children running from the Hart Space, a community hub that offers yoga for expectant mothers, babies, and children. “They had been stabbed here, here, here, everywhere,” he said, indicating the back and chest. “They were all aged about 10. One of them was really seriously injured.”
Harry Cainey, who lives with his mother in the street, said his mother saw paramedics carrying children “covered in red, covered in blood. She said she could see stab wounds in the backs of the children.”
Karolina Kaminska, a shopkeeper on Eastbank Street, reported hearing sirens and seeing a helicopter circling above. Messages circulated on local WhatsApp groups urging residents to lock their windows and doors.
The North West Air Ambulance charity has urged people to avoid speculation and not to post images or videos of the incident online, instead encouraging any footage to be given to the police to aid in their investigation.
Merseyside Police have imposed flight restrictions in the area, affecting drones and helicopters. A temporary airspace restriction is in place, making it an offence for any aircraft to fly below 2,000ft above sea level in the designated area without permission.
Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell expressed shock and concern about the incident, urging people to be careful about what they share online and not to speculate.
As the situation continues to unfold, the local community remains in shock. Authorities are expected to provide further updates as more information becomes available.
This incident has sent shockwaves through the typically quiet seaside town of Southport, known more for its beaches and tourism than for violent crime. As investigators work to piece together what happened, the focus now turns to supporting the victims and their families while the community grapples with this unexpected tragedy.
Source: news.sky.com
