Two children have died and nine have been injured, six critically, after a series of stabbings at a children’s dance class in Southport, near Liverpool, on Monday.
Two adults were also in critical condition after what police described as a “ferocious attack”.
The stabbings took place at a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance class at the Hart Space, a studio which also hosts antenatal and hypnobirthing classes in the north-west seaside town.
Merseyside police chief constable Serena Kennedy said a man, armed with a knife, had entered the class and started to attack the children at about 11.47am on Monday.
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“When [officers] arrived, they were shocked to find that multiple people, many of whom were children, had been subjected to a ferocious attack and had suffered serious injuries,” she said.
“We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked.”
A 17-year-old boy, from the village of Banks in Lancashire and originally from Cardiff, was later arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder in connection with the attack.
Ms Kennedy said “the motivation for the incident remains unclear” but it was not currently being treated as terrorist related.
In the initial response to the attack, police described it as a major incident and 13 ambulances were sent to the scene, while Alder Hey children’s hospital also declared a major incident, asking people to avoid their “extremely busy” emergency room if possible.
The dance and yoga session, aimed at children aged six to 11, was being run by two teachers, and was due to finish at noon, just 10 minutes after the stabbings took place.
Residents and business owners described horrific scenes after the attacks, including children bleeding in the street and parents screaming as they tried to locate their child.
Alaina Riley (18) said her aunt, who lives across the road from the venue, witnessed “little kids run out screaming covered in blood” and two staff members “crawling” out of the building.
Ms Riley said her aunt saw parents running out of the dance class carrying children covered in blood and attempting to resuscitate them.
“I think it was pickup time,” Ms Riley said. “She said she had never heard screams like it. She was distraught and in an absolute state on the phone to me.”
Locals were reportedly bringing children out of the building to tend to their injuries before the emergency services arrived.
Colin Parry, the owner of Masters car repair shop, which is next door to The Hart Space, said he saw “two or three kids” lying seriously injured on the floor.
“It was horrific, absolutely,” he said, adding that his colleague ran to the door of the dance studio after he heard “screaming that wasn’t normal”. About 10 kids go running past him, all bleeding, and one of them collapsed on the floor outside,” he said.
Further down the road, Debrah Parker (57) said she heard a young girl come out of the building saying: “Mum, I’ve been stabbed, I’ve been stabbed.”
“She [the mother] bundled her in the car as fast as she could, she was screaming: ‘Help me, help me.’ She was covered in blood,” she said.
“I heard her shouting ‘my daughter has been stabbed’, begging for help. She was trying to flag down the police,” Michelle Birkby (36), said. “It seems a bit insane to me, I can’t fathom. We’re just all in a bit of shock.”
Police cordoned off a large area around where the stabbings took place, as well as a street in Banks, a 15-minute drive away, believed to be linked to the suspect.
Prime minister Keir Starmer said the incident in Southport was “horrendous and deeply shocking”.
“My thoughts are with all those affected,” he said in a statement. “I would like to thank the police and emergency services for their swift response. I am being kept updated as the situation develops.” – Guardian