Two children injured in the stabbing attack at a dance class in Southport have been discharged from hospital, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed.
Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were killed on Monday when a knifeman entered the Taylor Swift-themed dance class on Hart Street.
Eight other children suffered knife wounds – with five of them left in a critical condition – while two adults were also critically hurt.
In a statement on Thursday, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are delighted that two of the children involved in Monday’s awful incident have now been discharged.
“We continue to treat five children involved in the devastating incident in Southport on Monday, including one recently transferred to us from Aintree University Hospital.
“All the children in our care are currently in a stable condition. Out heartfelt sympathies remain with all those affected by Monday’s incident.
“We will not be providing any further information.”
The condition of the eighth child and the two adults injured in the attack has not been confirmed.
A 17-year-old boy on Thursday appeared in court charged with three counts of murder, following the deaths of Monday’s victims Alice, Bebe and Elsie.
The teenager was also charged with possession of a bladed article, and with the attempted murder of two adults, yoga class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes, as well as the attempted murder of the eight children who cannot be named for legal reasons.
The boy, from Banks in Lancashire, who cannot be named as he is under 18, appeared in the dock at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.
He was remanded into youth detention accommodation and was due to appear at Liverpool Crown Court later on Thursday.
Chief Constable of Merseyside Police Serena Kennedy said: “Whilst these charges are a significant milestone within this investigation, this remains very much a live investigation and we continue to work with our partners from Lancashire Police and counter-terrorism police in the North West.”
Disorder has broken out following Monday’s attack, with more than 100 people arrested at a protest in Whitehall on Wednesday night, while there was also unrest in Hartlepool, Manchester and Aldershot.
The knife attack has rocked the Merseyside seaside town of Southport, where thousands of people turned out to pay their respects to the victims at a vigil on Tuesday evening.
Violence later erupted outside a mosque in the town, with 53 police officers and three police dogs injured.
Police called in support from neighbouring forces in case of further disorder, but the seaside town appeared to remain quiet on Wednesday evening, however unrest developed in other areas of the country.
Protesters, chanting “you’re not English any more” and throwing bottles and cans at police in riot gear, were detained on Whitehall while in Hartlepool, County Durham, a police car was set alight and glass bottles and eggs were thrown at officers.
