Bleeding children flee knife attack in England

Article content

LONDON (AP) — At least eight people, including children, were injured in stabbings in northwest England on Monday, emergency services said. Police said they arrested a man and seized a knife.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the attack as “appalling and deeply shocking”.

Merseyside Police said officers were called to an address in Southport, a seaside town near Liverpool, around midday. It described it as a “serious incident” but said there was no major danger to the public and urged people to avoid the area.

Article content

The North West Ambulance Service said paramedics treated eight people for stab wounds. The injured were taken to local hospitals, including a children’s hospital.

The BBC and other media reported that the attack occurred at a community center where a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga event for primary school children was planned.

Bare Varathan, who owns a shop down the street, said he saw between seven and 10 bleeding children running out of the building.

“They had been stabbed here, here, here, everywhere,” he said, pointing to the neck, back and chest. “They were all about ten years old. One of them was really badly injured.”

Colin Parry, owner of a car repair shop near the site of the attack, said the attack had “something American about it, nothing sunny Southport”.

Visit our website for the latest breaking news, exclusive news briefs, long reads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and subscribe to our newsletters here.

Share this article on your social network