Other MoA event in Merseyside, Southport area, United Kingdom on Mon 29th July 2024

Two children dead in Southport stabbing after attack at dance party

A major incident was declared following the knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed event

Two children have been confirmed to have died after a horrific knife attack in Southport. Earlier today the ECHO reported that one child had died after a man entered a property in Hart Street and began attacking people with a knife.

At a police press conference held at the Southport Community Fire Station this evening, Chief Constable Serena Kennedy confirmed the attack had left two children dead. Nine other children have been injured, six of them critically. Two adults were also in critical conditions.

Many of them were rushed to hospitals around the region with major trauma injuries. Earlier today Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool declared a critical incident and urged people to stay away unless completely necessary.
A second police scene is also in place on Old School Close in Banks. A cordon and multiple police officers can be seen stationed outside a house. Police confirmed a 17-year-old had been detained and in police custody. They confirmed the incident was not being treated as terror-related and said there was no wider threat to the public.

Several eyewitnesses have told the ECHO children were enjoying a dance summer camp. An event was taking place at The Hart Space, a pregnancy care centre located on the first floor of Norwood Business Park on Hart Street, Southport. It offers antenatal, hypnobirthing and pregnancy yoga classes, as well as baby and children's classes.A post previously shared on social media by The Hart Space confirmed they were holding a sold-out Taylor Swift yoga and dance workshop, today between 10am and 12pm. One man, who told the ECHO his daughter was supposed to go to the class this morning, before changing her mind, said the class was for children aged three to 12.