A third child has died following a mass stabbing in Southport, northern England, bringing the total number of fatalities to three. The incident, which occurred on Monday during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, initially resulted in the deaths of two other children and left five others critically injured, according to police. The nine-year-old girl who died on Tuesday succumbed to injuries from the attack, Merseyside Police confirmed. The two earlier victims were girls aged six and seven.
On Tuesday, UK police interrogated a 17-year-old suspect who was arrested in connection with the violent attack. This stabbing spree, which took place during the dance class, also resulted in two adults and six children being critically injured, with three more children sustaining lesser injuries. Tributes including flowers and teddy bears have been placed near the scene of the attack.
Police Chief Serena Kennedy stated that the two adults involved were attempting to shield the children, who were between six and eleven years old. Singer Taylor Swift expressed her shock and sadness, stating, “The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families, and first responders. These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”
Residents of Southport, a small coastal town near Liverpool, are struggling to cope with the incident. Leanne Hassan, a local resident, described her disbelief, noting, “I just cannot believe that it happened so close to home.” She had hurried to pick up her daughter from a nearby nursery, which was locked down after the attack.
Police Chief Kennedy confirmed that the attack is not being investigated as a terror-related incident, and the motive behind the attack remains unclear. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the events as “just truly awful,” adding, “It is almost impossible to imagine the grief.” Interior Minister Yvette Cooper visited Southport on Tuesday to meet with local officials. An evening vigil is planned to honor the victims. Chancellor Rachel Reeves indicated that Starmer is expected to visit the affected community as well.
The suspect, who is from the nearby village of Banks and was born in Cardiff, is being held at a police station. Police have stated that investigations are ongoing to determine the motive for the attack.
Attacks targeting children are rare in the UK. Monday’s stabbing has drawn comparisons to the 1996 Dunblane school massacre, the deadliest mass shooting in British history. The North West Ambulance Service reported that 11 individuals with stab wounds were treated and transported to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and other local hospitals. Local business owner Colin Parry, who was among the first to report the incident, said he saw several injured children. Another witness, Bare Varathan, noted that he observed multiple bleeding children. Some witnesses described the scene as resembling a “horror movie.”
King Charles III has expressed his “most heartfelt condolences, prayers, and deepest sympathies,” calling the attack “utterly horrific.” Prince William and his wife, Catherine, also conveyed their sorrow, stating, “As parents, we cannot begin to imagine what the families, friends, and loved ones of those killed and injured in Southport today are going through,” and condemned the attack as “heinous.”
