Two children were killed and nine more were injured in what police described as a "ferocious" stabbing attack in northwest England on Monday morning during a Taylor Swift-themed dance event. A 17-year-old male was later arrested in connection with the violence.
The knife attack occurred in Southport, a seaside town in Merseyside, which is north of Liverpool, Merseyside Police said.
Authorities were called to a property on Hart Street at 11:50 a.m. (6:50 a.m. ET) on reports of a stabbing.
In an update later Monday, police said that in total two children died and nine others were injured — six of them critically. Two adults were also critically injured as they tried to defend the children, police said.
The children were attending a Taylor Swift-themed event at a dance school when the offender — described as a 17-year-old male from Banks, a nearby village — walked in armed with a knife and "started to attack inside the children," Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said at a news conference.
"We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked," Kennedy said.
"As a mum and a nana, I can’t begin to imagine the pain and suffering that the families of the victims are going through at this moment and time, and I wish to send my heartfelt condolences to them," she added.
The teenage suspect was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. He remains in custody and will be questioned.
Police earlier said that a knife was seized, as well.
Police said in a statement that “enquiries are ongoing to establish the motive for this tragic incident.” Officials said that the attack is not being treated as terrorist-related and that no one else is believed to be connected. There is no wider threat to the public, they said.
Police ask witnesses or anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
Colin Parry, who owns the business next to the community center that was hosting the children’s event, said one of his colleagues called him and told him to get outside, where he witnessed utter horror.
“It was definitely intentional. It wasn’t once. It was several times he stabbed these kids. The man is crazy,” he told Sky News.
He said he saw his colleague carrying a young girl covered in blood and saw neighbors spring into action by bringing kids out of the center.
“It’s like a nightmare — the biggest horrific thing you could ever witness in your life, seeing little kids like that,” Parry said.
Bare Varathan, who owns a corner shop on Hart Street, told The Telegraph that he saw seven to 10 children outside the nursery. “They were injured, bleeding. They were in the road, running from the nurses,” he said.
“They had been stabbed, here, here, here, everywhere,” he said indicating the neck, back and chest areas.
“I hope they will be OK. Only two police jeeps and ambulances arrived, then armed police came and took him out of the nursery,” Varathan said. “Somebody told me he had arrived in a taxi and had a knife.”
Patients were taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Aintree University Hospital and Southport and Formby Hospital.
Alder Hey Children’s declared a “major incident” Monday, saying that “our emergency department is currently extremely busy” while noting that it was working with other emergency services to respond.
The attack happened at the Hope of Hart children’s club, the BBC reported, citing journalist Tim Johnson of Eye on Southport, a local news site.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident “horrendous and deeply shocking news.”
“My thoughts are with all those affected,” he wrote on X. I would like to thank the police and emergency services for their swift response. I am being kept updated as the situation develops.”
Patrick Hurley, the member of Parliament for Southport, said he was “deeply concerned.”
“I am hoping for the best possible outcomes to the casualties affected. My thoughts go out to all those affected, their loved ones and to the entire community,” he wrote on X. “The police have confirmed that an individual involved in the attack has now been detained. I am repeating the advice of the police to avoid the area whilst the police and ambulance teams support this incident.”