A nine-year-old girl has died following an attack in northwest England, police confirm, raising the death toll to three children from the stabbings at a yoga and dance class.
“Sadly we can confirm that a third child has passed away as a result of injuries sustained in a knife attack in Southport yesterday morning,” Merseyside police said in a statement, adding that she died in hospital on Tuesday.
They also confirmed that the children who died on Monday were girls aged six and seven years.
Eight other children suffered stab wounds, and five of them remain in a critical condition, police said.
Two adults are also in a critical condition after being injured during the incident, police said in an update on the stabbings at a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance workshop in Southport town near Liverpool.
Police said they had seized a knife from the suspect, aged 17, after being called to a property in Southport at 11:50am (10:50 GMT) on Monday. They added that the motive behind the incident was unclear.
“This incident is not currently being treated as terror-related and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with it,” the statement said.
“A name has been shared on social media in connection with the suspect in the incident in Southport,” police said on Tuesday. “This name is incorrect and we would urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing.”
Richard Townes, a children’s entertainer and father of a young child, from Southport, told the Press Association news agency on Tuesday that parents in the area are now “terrified” of sending their children to summer groups. He has set up a fundraiser to try and help the families affected by the stabbings.
On Monday, police had restricted flights to Southport and cordoned off the location where the incident occurred.
Local business owner Colin Parry, one of the people who called police on Monday, told the Press Association: “The mothers are coming here now and screaming. It is like a scene from a horror movie.
“It’s like something from America, not like sunny Southport,” he added.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Mayor of Liverpool Steve Rotheram expressed their concern and said they were monitoring the situation closely.
Starmer said the incident was “horrendous and deeply shocking”.
“My thoughts are with all those affected. I would like to thank the police and emergency services for their swift response. I am being kept updated as the situation develops,” he added on X.
Horrendous and deeply shocking news emerging from Southport. My thoughts are with all those affected.
I would like to thank the police and emergency services for their swift response.
I am being kept updated as the situation develops.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 29, 2024
Knife crime incidents have become increasingly common across England and Wales in recent years. According to the Home Office, in the 12 months to December 2023, some 14,577 offences were recorded.
Prior to winning the general elections in July, Starmer had promised to tackle knife crime in the UK, and said it would be “an absolute priority”.
At the King’s Speech in July, Starmer’s government introduced a new crime bill for the country that also seeks to crack down on the sale of ninja and samurai swords, in an effort to tackle knife crime.
