Southport, Merseyside stabbing: Heartbreaking details emerge after two children killed at Taylor Swift event

Two children were killed in a knife rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on Tuesday local time.

Nine other children were injured – six critically – at the holiday club in the seaside town of Southport, Merseyside.

Two adults were also left fighting for their lives after they bravely tried to protect the panicking children at the workshop.

As a boy of 17 was arrested last night, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer branded the attack ‘horrendous and deeply shocking’.

King Charles said: “My wife and I have been 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 suspect, who lives in a nearby village, was arrested close to the scene and was last night held on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

Detectives were trying to establish a motive, with police saying that while counter-terror officers had offered support, the incident was ‘not currently being treated as terrorism’.

The hooded knife-man arrived by taxi as parents were picking up their children from a children’s event themed around US pop star Ms Swift shortly before midday, witnesses said.

Moments later, people spilled out onto the quiet street ‘screaming’ and ‘in tears’.

Armed police officers swooped on the venue, called Hart Space, after the stabbing spree at the sold-out children’s dance, yoga and bracelet-making workshop.

Mothers arriving to pick up their children were met with terrible scenes as injured youngsters were carried outside by emergency workers.

A business owner who called the police said it was “like something from America, not like sunny Southport”.

Colin Parry, who owns Masters Vehicle Body Repairs, said: “The mothers are coming here now and screaming. It is like a scene from a horror movie.”

He told BBC Radio 5 Live that a builder helped lead some of the children away from the attack and neighbours helped take “about ten girls to safety”.

“The community was coming together, everyone was trying to help,” he added.

“The woman was in hysterics’

“Everyone was trying to save the young kids.”

Mr Parry said he rang 999 and told them: “You need to get ambulances here now. We need police. We need armed police. There’s a kid dying here on the floor.”

One resident said a woman pulled up outside in her car, screaming.

He said: “She was screaming, ‘my daughter’s been stabbed’. The woman was in hysterics. It was a mum with her ten-year-old daughter, who had been stabbed.”

After escorting them towards waiting ambulances, he saw “a couple of kids on the floor being seen to by paramedics”.

Bare Varathan, 35, who owns a corner shop, said he saw “seven to ten kids” running in the street, “injured” and “bleeding”.

He said they had been stabbed “everywhere”, indicating his neck, back and chest.

Another resident said: “I saw a little girl covered in blood being led away on a stretcher with her parents running behind. It’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Emergency services arrived at 11.47am, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said.

Mrs Kennedy, pictured below, added: “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.

The offender, who was armed with a knife, walked into the premises and started to attack those inside.

“We believe that the adults who were injured were trying to protect the children at the time they were attacked. As a mum of two daughters, and the nana of a five-year-old granddaughter, I cannot begin to imagine the pain and suffering the families of the victims are currently going through, and I want to send them our heartfelt condolences and sympathies.”

Shortly after the attack, armed police descended on a quiet cul-de-sac in the nearby village of Banks, where the Cardiff-born teenage suspect is believed to live with his parents.

Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital declared a major incident, with victims also taken to three other hospitals.

Ryan Carney told how his mother Hayley saw children taken to ambulances “covered in blood”.

“She went out and there was a woman who was screaming, saying she can’t find her child,” he said.

“They let her into the cordon and she ran down and all she could hear was screaming and crying, saying, ‘That’s my child! That’s my child!’ It was just a horrible thing to witness.

“It’s just disgusting, to do something like this. It’s a holiday club, they were holding a Taylor Swift event. Just a bunch of kids. It’s sunny Southport, that’s what people call it, it’s the seaside, somewhere families come to have a good time in the holidays. Nothing about it makes any sense.”

Locals initially thought there had been a car accident because a vehicle was covered in blood before they realised the true horror of what was unfolding.

A staff member at Hart Space, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she rushed to the scene after the alarm was raised.

“When I got there, there was a guy who was absolutely distraught, in a mess,” she said.

“He’d seen two children run out of the Hart Space, and he thought they had got hit by a car because the car was just full of blood at the side of the car.

“But it was actually that the children who had been stabbed had fallen into the car.”

Joanne Newman told BBC News that one of her daughters, who was in the area at the time of the attack, heard a ‘sinister scream’.

She added: “I got a call from a friend – I was in work completely oblivious to it and as soon as she told me I literally ran out of work.

“I don’t know how I managed to drive back, to be fair – my priority was just my girls, my girls.”

Mrs Newman said: “Nobody can believe it. All the local mums have checked in with one another. I’m sure we’re all going to know somebody from that poor group.”

Police cordoned off a stretch of Hart Street and officers were examining the road close to the venue last night.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said: “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.”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “I am deeply concerned at the very serious incident in Southport.”

“All my thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those affected.”

She thanked the emergency services for their “swift and courageous response”.

Emily Spurrell, Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said she was “utterly shocked and devastated” by the attack.

“I cannot even imagine the untold pain and heartache they are facing. My thoughts are also with all those who suffered injuries and who have been affected by this harrowing incident.”

The attack on “innocent, defenceless children” during their summer holidays was “unthinkable and absolutely abhorrent”.

“These young people had their whole lives ahead of them and it is hard to find the words to convey our deep sadness,” Ms Spurrell said.

“Our region will be heartbroken that more young lives have been lost at the hands of violence and I share local people’s deep concern and anguish.”

Southport MP Patrick Hurley said he was “deeply saddened” that two children had lost their lives in such “mindless violence”.

He added: “I want to particularly thank our community for sticking together and helping those affected in the aftermath of the attack.’ Merseyside Police said: ‘At this early stage, enquiries are ongoing to establish the motive for this tragic incident and we would urge people not to speculate while the investigation is ongoing.”