Southport stabbings: two children dead, nine injured and Lancashire teenager arrested
Two children have died and nine others have been injured - six of them critically - after a knife attack close to a Taylor Swift-themed yoga class in Southport, Merseyside Police have confirmed.
The force said a 17-year-old male from the West Lancashire village of Banks - but originally from Cardiff - remained in custody late on Monday afternoon having been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
It follows what police have described as a “ferocious” incident which has been likened by one local to something out of a "horror movie".
Two adults are also critically ill after the stabbings, which occurred at around 11.50am at a property on Hart Street in Southport.
Banks is around five miles away from the scene of the attack.
At a press conference shortly before 7pm on Monday, Merseyside Police chief constable Serena Kennedy said:
“It is with great sadness today I'm here to advise that two children have died as a result of the injuries sustained in this morning's knife attack. Nine other children have been injured - and six of them are in a critical condition.
“All those injured have suffered stab wounds sustained during the attack - and two adults are also in a critical condition after being injured during the incident.
“A 17-year-old male from Banks in Lancashire, who is originally from Cardiff, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, and is being taken to a police station where he will be interviewed by detectives.
“My officers were called to reports of a stabbing at 11.47 this morning at an address in Southport. When they 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.
“It is understood that the children were attending a Taylor Swift event at a dance school when the offender, armed with a knife, walked into the premises and started to attack - inside - the children.
“We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked.
“As a mum and a nanna, I cannot begin to imagine the pain and suffering that the families of the victims are going through at this moment in time - and I wish to send my heartfelt condolences to them.
“Our specialist family liaison officers are providing support to the families of the deceased children and the children who are injured at this moment in time, and we will be working with our partners, including theft and Council, to provide that wider trauma support to those who have been affected by this incident.
“The investigation is in its early stages and the motivation for the incident remains unclear. However, Counter Terrorism Police North West have offered their support to Merseyside Police as the full circumstances of what has happened are being established. At this moment in time, the investigation is not being treated as terrorist related.
“I would appeal to anyone who has witnessed anything or who has information that could help us [with] the investigation, to contact us [via] Crimestoppers - 0800 555 111.
“And anyone who has been affected by this incident can contact [the] Victim Care Merseyside service for help and support. Our hub of locally-trained staff are here to provide free…emotional support and practical, tailored advice to you.
“You can contact the Victim Care Hub Merseyside on 0808 175 3080,” Ms. Kennedy added.
‘Like something from America’
One witness told the PA news agency that he called the police to an address behind The Hart Space studios, where the yoga class - for children aged between six and 11 - was taking place. Witnesses described hearing "screaming" and seeing bleeding children running from the scene.
Colin Parry, owner of Masters Vehicle Body Repairs, said he believed that six or seven "young girls" had been stabbed.
"It is like a scene from a horror movie,” Mr Parry said.
"It's like something from America, not like sunny Southport."
A large police cordon is in place around the building with police officers guarding either end.
Officers and vehicles could be seen from a distance inside the cordon, including scenes-of-crime officers in white boiler suits.
Bare Varathan, 35, who owns a corner shop in Hart Street, said he was called by a staff member who told him: "Boss, get to the shop!"
He said: "I saw seven to 10 kids outside the nursery. They were injured, bleeding. They were in the road, running from the nursery.
"They had been stabbed, here, here, here, everywhere,” said Mr Varathan, indicating the neck, back and chest area.
"They were all aged about 10. One of them was really seriously injured.
"I hope they will be okay. Only two police jeeps and ambulances arrived, then armed police came and took him out of the nursery.
"Somebody told me he had arrived in a taxi and had a knife."
One resident, who lives on Hart Street but did not want to be named, said he was at home about midday when a woman pulled up outside in her car, screaming.
He said: "She was screaming 'my daughter's been stabbed'.
"The woman was in hysterics. Then two police cars rushed up the street the other way.
"It was a mum with her 10-year-old daughter who had been stabbed.
"I helped to get her back up to where the police cars and ambulances were.
"She didn't look great, but my focus was on getting her back up the street to get help.
"When I got back up the street there were a couple of kids on the floor being seen to by paramedics and, as I came back, more police cars were going down and more ambulances gradually started to arrive."
Another local parent said: "My daughter was in it and she was traumatised.
"She ran away and she's safe."
Alder Hey declared a major incident and asked parents not to bring their children to the emergency department unless it was urgent.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the incident was "horrendous and deeply shocking", Dozens of police cars, vans, fire engines and ambulances were also assembled a short distance away at a local school.
NWAS said it had despatched 13 ambulances along with specialised resources of its Hazardous Area Response Team, an air ambulance and doctors.