Another attack at a music event: three children and dead and 11 people hurt

It was supposed to be a safe space: a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop at Hart Space Studios in the town of Southport near Liverpool. A group of children between the ages of 6 and 11 were dancing, doing yoga, and making friendship bracelets. Then at 11:47 am, a 17-year-old boy walked into the dance school and started attacking the kids–mostly little girls–with a knife.

Two children are dead. Nine more children were injured, six seriously. Two adults were injured and both are fighting for their lives in the hospital.

The alleged attacker is from the nearby village of Banks. Early word is that he just walked in to the studio and started stabbing and slashing. He’s in custody. There is no motive yet, although police say the attack was not terror motivated. He apparently acted alone, too.

Merseyside Police issued this statement.

“It is with great sadness that today I am here to advise that two young children have died as a result of injuries sustained in a knife attack this morning.

“Nine other children have been injured, and six of them are in a critical condition, all those injured have suffered stab wounds sustained during the attack. Two adults are also in a critical condition after being injured during the incident.

“A 17-year-old male from Banks in Lancashire, who was born in Cardiff, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and has been taken to a police station where he will be interviewed by detectives

“My officers were called to reports of a stabbing at 11.47am at an address Southport. 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.

“It is understood that the children were attending a Taylor Swift event at a dance school when the offender, who was armed with a knife, walked into the premises and started to attack those inside. We believe that the adults who were injured were trying to protect the children at the time they were attacked.

“As a mum of two daughters, and the nanna of a five-year-old granddaughter, I cannot begin to imagine the pain and suffering the families of the victims are currently going through and I want to send them our heartfelt condolences and sympathies.

“Our specialist Family Liaison Officers are providing support to the families at this terrible time.”

As you might expect, Taylor Swift is in shock over the whole thing.

[This post has been updated to reflect the death of a third child. It also corrects the ages of children affected.]