Police say one suspect arrested, and a knife seized
Olayomi Koiki
LIVERPOOL, UK – The deadly stabbing that left one child dead and at least seven other children and adults critically injured in a U.K. town took place at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party, it was revealed as new information floods in about the “mass casualty” event.
The class, which was reportedly tailored to children between the ages of 3 and 12, was themed after the American pop superstar, who’s currently embarking on the European leg of The Eras Tour and is scheduled to return to the U.K. for five more shows at London’s Wembley Stadium in a couple of weeks before returning to North America for the second U.S. leg.
Chaos erupted in Southport, a small town just 20 miles north of Liverpool, England, late Monday morning when a man wearing a “black hood” allegedly walked into the dance party and stabbed at least eight individuals, if not more, according to Yorkshire Live and the Liverpool ECHO.
The Merseyside police confirmed that the stabbing took place at The Hart Space, located on Hart Street in the coastal town on England’s western edge. There were as many as 25 children there, it was reported, and witnesses described the horrific scene of children racing out of the building, covered in blood.
Merseyside Police said armed police had arrested a man and seized a knife after being called to reports of a stabbing at around 11.50am. There was no wider threat to the public, they added.
“I am deeply concerned at the very serious incident in Southport,” Britain’s interior minister Yvette Cooper said on X.
“All my thoughts are with the families & loved ones of those affected. I have spoken to the Merseyside Police & Crime Commissioner to convey full support to the police & thanks to the emergency services responding.”
North West Ambulance Service said it had treated eight patients with stab injuries who had been taken to three different hospitals, including Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital said it had declared a major incident and its emergency department was extremely busy. It asked parents only to bring their children in if it was urgent.
A staff member at The Hart Space, which offers clubs for kids during holidays, including dance and craft classes, said she spoke to a witness who thought a couple of the kids had been hit by a car, as there was so much blood on the hood of the vehicle and on them, but it turned out, they had run out onto the street and collapsed.
The small building only has one door, it was reported, which was kept unlocked and open, as having it closed would have posed a fire hazard, the staff member said. She reportedly wasn’t at the dance class when the stabbing occurred and said she didn’t know what the status of the other teachers was as of Monday afternoon.
KOIKI Media bringing the world 🌎 closer to your door step