Two children killed in Southport stabbing attack, police confirm Two children have died following a “frenzied” knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport today, police confirmed. Speaking at a press conference, chief constable Serena Kennedy said two children were killed in a “ferocious attack”. She added that nine others were injured, including six left in a critical condition. In addition two adults are also in critical condition. All injuries were as a result of stab wounds. Closing summary Two children have died following a “frenzied” knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport today, police confirmed. Speaking at a press conference, chief constable Serena Kennedy said two children were killed in a “ferocious attack”. She added that nine others were injured, including six left in a critical condition. The motivation behind the knife attack in Southport “remains unclear”, according to police. Merseyside police chief constable Serena Kennedy told a press conference: “The investigation is at its early stages and the motivation for the incident remains unclear. However, Counter-Terrorism Police North-West have offered their support to Merseyside police as the full circumstances of what has happened are being established. Kennedy said a 17-year-old boy from Banks, Lancashire, had been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder over the “ferocious attack”. She added that he was originally from Cardiff, south Wales. Merseyside police said the attacker “walked into the premises and started to attack” the children at the dance class event. Kennedy told a press conference this evening that the two adults in critical condition were understood to have sustained injuries while trying to protect the children. North-West ambulance service Cheshire and Merseyside head of service Dave Kitchin told a press conference the knife attack will leave a “lasting impact on the whole community”. Kitchin also confirmed 11 casualties were treated at what he described as a “devastating scene”. Police have cordoned off a street with officers stationed outside a house in the village of Banks, about three miles from the stabbing incident. It is not yet clear if the two incidents are linked, PA Media reported. Two police cars are stationed on Old School Close, with more police vehicles and officers behind the cordon. Colin Parry, the owner of Masters car repair shop, said he had a brief exchange with the man believed to be the attacker minutes before the attack unfolded. He told the Guardian: “He came down our driveway in a taxi and didn’t pay for the taxi, so I confronted him at that point. He was quite aggressive, he said: ‘What are you gonna do about it?’ The customer I was dealing with at the time confronted him as well, and he [the attacker] said the same to him. Then he turned around and walked out of the drive.” Residents had begun leaving floral tributes at the scene by Monday evening, passing them to police officers who laid them behind the cordon. “I live in Southport,” said Rebecca Armstrong, 50, who said she “felt like I had to” come down to pay her respects. “I just wanted to show that we care about the children, the families … our thoughts are with them.” Neighbours said they were first alerted to the incident at about 12 noon when they heard a woman in the street, shouting for help. A 10-year-old girl was bleeding, and saying she was struggling to breathe, they said. One neighbour said she was “barely conscious.” “She’s [the daughter] come out saying ‘mum I’ve been stabbed, I’ve been stabbed’,” Debrah Parker, 57, said. “She [the mother] bundled her in the car as fast as she could, she was screaming, ‘help me, help me’, she was covered in blood.” Alaina Riley, 18, said her aunt saw parents running out of the dance class carrying children covered in blood and attempting to resuscitate them. “She said she watched parents resuscitating them out on the front, the parents had grabbed hold of them. I think it was pick-up time.” The prime minister has offered his condolences to the victims of the attack and their families and friends, saying “the whole country is deeply shocked”. He said in a statement: “The events today are just truly awful and I know the whole country is deeply shocked at what they have seen and what they have heard. I know I speak for everybody in the whole country in saying our thoughts and condolences are with the victims, their families, their friends and with the wider community. It is impossible to imagine what they are going through right now.” Merseyside’s police and crime commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “I am utterly shocked and devastated to hear about the truly appalling incident this morning in Southport.” She added: “First and foremost, my heart goes out to the young victims, their families and all who knew and loved them. 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 king has sent his “most heartfelt condolences, prayers and deepest sympathies” to the families and loved ones of the victims of the “utterly horrific” Southport stabbings. In a statement, he 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 king has sent his “most heartfelt condolences, prayers and deepest sympathies” to the families and loved ones of the victims of the “utterly horrific” Southport stabbings. In a statement, 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. Hannah Al-Othman Residents had begun leaving floral tributes at the scene by Monday evening, passing them to police officers who laid them behind the cordon. “I live in Southport,” said Rebecca Armstrong, 50, who said she “felt like I had to” come down to pay her respects. “I just wanted to show that we care about the children, the families … our thoughts are with them.” The community, she said, was “also suffering”, and it was a “desperately sad situation”. Merseyside’s police and crime commissioner Emily Spurrell said: I am utterly shocked and devastated to hear about the truly appalling incident this morning in Southport. First and foremost, my heart goes out to the young victims, their families and all who knew and loved them. 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. To hear that innocent, defenceless children have been attacked during a Taylor Swift event at a dance school as they enjoyed the start of the school summer holidays is 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. Our region will be heartbroken that more young lives have been lost at the hands of violence and more have suffered serious injuries, and I share local people’s deep concern and anguish. Thanks to the efforts of police officers, an arrest was made quickly and there is no wider threat to the public. More from Keir Starmer this evening. The prime minister said in a statement: The events today are just truly awful and I know the whole country is deeply shocked at what they have seen and what they have heard. I know I speak for everybody in the whole country in saying our thoughts and condolences are with the victims, their families, their friends and with the wider community. It is impossible to imagine what they are going through right now. Starmer also thanked the emergency services for their response, saying: They have responded to an awful incident today. I want to thank them for the professionalism they have shown in doing so. North-West ambulance service Cheshire and Merseyside head of service Dave Kitchin told a press conference the knife attack in Southport will leave a “lasting impact on the whole community”. Kitchin also confirmed 11 casualties were treated at what he described as a “devastating scene”. The motivation behind the knife attack in Southport “remains unclear”, according to police. Merseyside police chief constable Serena Kennedy told a press conference: “The investigation is at its early stages and the motivation for the incident remains unclear. “However, Counter-Terrorism Police North-West have offered their support to Merseyside police as the full circumstances of what has happened are being established. “At this moment in time, the investigation is not being treated as terrorist-related.” "The whole country is deeply shocked", says Starmer The prime minister has offered his condolences to the victims of the attack in Southport, and their families and friends, saying “the whole country is deeply shocked”. Earlier today he tweeted: 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. Merseyside police chief constable Serena Kennedy said a 17-year-old boy from Banks, Lancashire, had been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder over the “ferocious attack”. She added that he was originally from Cardiff, south Wales. Merseyside police said the attacker “walked into the premises and started to attack” the children that had attended the dance class event. Chief constable Serena Kennedy told a press conference this evening that the two adults in critical condition were understood to have sustained injuries while trying to protect the children. She said: We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked. She added that her “heartfelt condolences” were with the families of those effected and that specialist family liasion officers were supporting them. Two children killed in Southport stabbing attack, police confirm Two children have died following a “frenzied” knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport today, police confirmed. Speaking at a press conference, chief constable Serena Kennedy said two children were killed in a “ferocious attack”. She added that nine others were injured, including six left in a critical condition. In addition two adults are also in critical condition. All injuries were as a result of stab wounds. Joanne Newman said her elder daughter - who had been taking her younger sister to a friend’s house - heard a “sinister scream” around the same time of the stabbing. She told BBC News: “She said she heard quite a sinister scream and literally she’d got back from taking my daughter - we don’t know roughly what time it was but it was similar timing, and then all the commotion had gone on, so looking back at the timescales that potentially could have been - but she said it was a very untoward, unusual scream, so we don’t know.” A woman said she left work immediately to check on her daughters when she heard news of the attack in Southport, adding that parents have been checking in with one another. Joanne Newman told BBC News: I got a call from a very, very good friend of mine, 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, my girls. I knew my eldest daughter was taking her to a friend’s house and I’m just so thankful to God that they’re safe. She continued: 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 awful, that poor group. But the parents I checked in on, my girls and I just ran to the crowd because I just thought, you put your NHS head on don’t you? The mother that I was just consoling, just the look on her face because she knew something had happened to her child, it’s like ‘oh my gosh’, how do you even comprehend - there’s nothing you can do. Police have cordoned off a street with officers stationed outside a house in the village of Banks, about three miles from the stabbing incident. It is not yet clear if the two incidents are linked, PA Media reported. Two police cars are stationed on Old School Close, with more police vehicles and officers behind the cordon. Locals said Matrix police, the armed unit of Merseyside Police, descended on the address shortly after the incident in Southport. Colin Parry, the owner of Masters car repair shop, said he had a brief exchange with the man believed to be the attacker minutes before the attack unfolded. He told the Guardian: “He came down our driveway in a taxi and didn’t pay for the taxi, so I confronted him at that point. He was quite aggressive, he said: ‘What are you gonna do about it?’ “The customer I was dealing with at the time confronted him as well, and he [the attacker] said the same to him. “Then he turned around and walked out of the drive.” Parry said the man was wearing a green hoodie and a Covid mask covering part of his face. Donna Jones, chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said: I am deeply concerned to hear about the major incident in Southport today. My thoughts are with the children and families injured. This incident is one that has shaken the community, not just in Southport but across the UK. Well done to Merseyside police for apprehending the suspect quickly and confirming he is in police custody. The police have asked the public not to speculate on social media in order to ensure the police investigation can take place as needed. Police arrest 17-year-old male over Southport stabbing attack A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the stabbing in Southport today, police have confirmed. In a statement, Merseyside police said: We can confirm that a 17-year-old male from Banks, who was arrested in connection to the stabbing in Southport this morning, Monday 29 July, remains in police custody and will be questioned about the incident. 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. The force said it is not treating the attack as “terror-related”, adding: We can also confirm that the incident is not currently being treated as terror-related and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. Any updates will be provided to the public when available. Right Reverend Dr John Perumbalath, Bishop of Liverpool, said: Like so many, I am shocked and saddened by the news from Southport. My prayers are, and will remain, with all those affected by this tragedy. I am deeply grateful for the quick response of all the emergency services and pray for all those called to care for the victims and support those affected by this incident. I know events such as this are unsettling for the community and I pray for peace, calm and reassurance for all affected.