Southport is a town north of Liverpool, according to the police.
LONDON A stabbing attack at a dancing school event in the United Kingdom resulted in the deaths of two children and the injuries of nine others, according to authorities.
Along with two adults who had also been stabbed, six of the injured children were listed in critical condition on Tuesday, according to Merseyside Police. Chief Constable Serena Kennedy stated in a statement that the adults appeared to have suffered injuries while defending the kids.
According to authorities, a 17-year-old boy was taken into custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. Police stated no other suspects were being sought and that the incident was not being investigated as related to terrorism. The motive was unclear, the police said.
Merseyside Police reported that just before noon local time, officers were called to a beach resort in Southport, approximately 20 miles north of Liverpool, regarding claims of stabbings at a residence on Hart Street. According to police, the gathering had a Taylor Swift theme.
According to Kennedy, the “ferocious” attack stunned the officers who arrived on the scene.
Keir Starmer, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, called the incident “horrendous and deeply shocking.”
I’m thinking about everyone who has been impacted,” he posted on social media. “I want to express my gratitude to the emergency services and police for their prompt action. I’m receiving updates as things move along.
King Charles issued a statement saying he and his wife, Queen Camilla, were “profoundly shocked to hear of the utterly horrific incident in Southport today.”
“We send our most heartfelt condolences, prayers and deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who have so tragically lost their lives, and to all those affected by this truly appalling attack,” the royals said in a statement.
Prince William and Princess Kate said in a statement: “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. We send our love, thoughts and prayers to all those involved in this horrid and heinous attack.”
The town of Southport sits in the county of Merseyside, in England’s northwest.
According to police, the suspect—whose name was withheld—was from Banks, a seaside community in Lancashire that is located just outside of Southport. According to the authorities, he was originally from Cardiff, Wales.
