US singer Taylor Swift spoke of her horror on Tuesday at the news three girls had been stabbed to death and five other children were critically wounded after a ferocious attack at a dance event in northern England for young fans of her music.
A 17-year-old male is in police custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after the incident at the “Taylor Swift yoga and dance workshop” in Southport, north of Liverpool, a summer holiday event for children aged from six to 11 on Monday morning.
Police on Tuesday confirmed a third child had died as a result of injuries sustained in the attack. The three victims were girls aged six, seven and nine. Eight other children also suffered stab wounds, and five remained in a critical condition.
Two adults were also critically wounded attempting to protect the young victims, police said. Witnesses described what they saw as being like a scene from a horror film.
“The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I’m just completely in shock,” Swift wrote on Instagram.
“These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”
Her fans have raised more than 50,000 pounds (US$64,000) online to help families of the victims and for the hospital where some of the children were being treated.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attack, which police are not treating as terrorism-related, “horrendous” while King Charles and his family expressed their shock at what had happened.
Merseyside Police said the motive was unclear but said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the stabbings.
The incident shocked Southport, a quiet seaside town, and interior minister Yvette Cooper was one of many who paid sombre visits to the scene on Tuesday to lay flowers.
“There will be deep distress right across the country as well as here in Southport for this appalling, just truly horrific attack because it’s beyond every parent’s worst nightmare,” she told broadcasters.
Cooper said it was important the police followed every possible angle in their investigation, amid fevered speculation on social media about the suspect, who was born in Cardiff and lived in a nearby village.
“A name has been shared on social media in connection with the suspect in the incident in Southport,” police said. “This name is incorrect, and we would urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing.”