SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND (29) — A brutal stabbing attack during a children’s dance and yoga class in Southport, northwest England, resulted in the deaths of two children and injuries to eleven others. The incident, described as a “ferocious” rampage, saw a 17-year-old boy wielding a knife, causing chaos as bloodied children fled into the streets for safety.
Merseyside Police have arrested the teenager on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. Although the motive remains unclear, authorities have stated that the attack is not being treated as terrorism-related.
Among the injured are nine children, six of whom are in critical condition. Additionally, two adults who attempted to shield the children are also critically injured. Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy commended the adults for their bravery in trying to protect the children during the attack.
The dance class, themed around Taylor Swift, was held for children aged 6 to 11 during the first week of the school vacation. The session, which included yoga, dance, and bracelet-making activities, quickly turned into a scene of horror. Witnesses reported hearing blood-curdling screams and seeing children covered in blood.
Bare Varathan, a local shop owner, described the traumatic scene: “They were in the road, running from the nursery. They had been stabbed, here, here, here, everywhere,” indicating neck, back, and chest areas.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the attack as “horrendous and deeply shocking.” Merseyside Police, who labeled it a “major incident,” assured that there was no broader threat to the public.
“When they arrived, 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,” said Kennedy.
Colin Parry, an auto body shop owner, noted that most of the victims appeared to be young girls. “The mothers are coming here now and screaming,” he said. “It is like a scene from a horror movie. … It’s like something from America, not like sunny Southport.”
The suspect, whose identity has not been revealed, is from Cardiff, Wales, and lived about 5 miles from the attack site. Ryan Carney, a local resident, described seeing emergency workers carrying bloodied children. “All this stuff never really happens around here,” he said. “You hear of it in major cities. This is sunny Southport. That’s what people call it.”
Britain’s worst attack on children occurred in 1996, when Thomas Hamilton killed 16 kindergarten pupils and their teacher in Dunblane, Scotland. This led to stringent firearm control laws in the UK. Knife crime has been a significant issue in recent years, with blades used in about 40% of homicides in the year to March 2023. The rise in knife-related violence has sparked calls for greater government action to curb such attacks.
