Two children dead in Southport stabbing attack
Two children have been killed and nine others have suffered stab wounds, six of whom are in a critical condition, after a man went on a knife rampage at a children’s club in the Merseyside seaside town of Southport today.
In addition to the child victims, two adults have been injured after they intervened to protect the children who were being attacked.
A 17-year-old male from a nearby village has been arrested.
“We can confirm that a 17-year-old male from Banks, who was arrested in connection to the stabbing in Southport this morning, remains in police custody and will be questioned about the incident,” said Merseyside Police in a statement this evening. The force added that the incident is not being treated as terror-related, and that officers are not looking for anyone else.
Armed police were called to Hart Street just before midday following a knife attack at Hart Space – a community hub and pregnancy care centre – where a Taylor Swift-themed dance summer workshop was taking place, aimed at children aged between two and six.
Full details of the horrific incident are yet to emerge. Victims have reportedly been taken to three hospitals, including the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.
The attack, which took place on a quiet residential street, has left locals shaken, with chilling accounts emerging from eyewitnesses.
Bare Varathan, 35, who owns a corner shop on Hart Street, said: “I saw seven to ten kids outside the nursery. They were injured, bleeding. They were in the road, running from the nursery.”
“They had been stabbed, here, here, here, everywhere,” he added, pointing to his neck, back and chest area. “They were all aged about ten. One of them was really seriously injured.”
Local journalist, Tim Johnson, of Eye on Southport, arrived at the scene about 20 minutes after the police had been called and describes seeing one girl on a stretcher covered in blood. “Her parents were running after her. It was horrendous. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“I saw ambulance men and women in tears. People were in tears in the streets,” Johnson added.
Colin Parry, owner of Masters Vehicle Body Repairs on Hart Street, said the scene unfolding in the area today “was like a horror movie”.
No details have emerged yet to provide any indication of the attacker’s motivations and Merseyside Police has urged the public to avoid speculation: “At this early stage, inquiries are ongoing to establish the motive for this tragic incident and we would urge people not to speculate.. Any updates will be provided to the public when available.”
Write to us with your comments to be considered for publication at letters@reaction.life