9-year-old is third child to die after knife attack in UK during Taylor Swift’s dance class

According to authorities, a third child died and ten others were injured in a devastating knife attack in a coastal town in northwest England on Monday.

The attacker entered Hart Space, a community center in Seaport where a Taylor Swift-themed children’s dance event was taking place, and began attacking those inside with a knife.

Two girls, aged 6 and 7, were killed in Monday’s attack. A 9-year-old girl died in hospital early Tuesday from injuries she sustained in the attack, Merseyside Police said in an update, bringing the death toll to three.

Eight other children suffered stab wounds and five of them were in critical condition. Two adults who, according to police, had bravely tried to protect the children were also in critical condition.

The 17-year-old suspect, described as male and from the nearby village of Banks, remains in police custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. His name has not been released as he is a minor.

Police said a knife was recovered at the crime scene on Monday.

Authorities said they were working to determine the motive for the bloodshed, but the incident was not being classified as terrorist-related. Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack.

Witnesses and anyone with information are asked to contact the police.

The brutal attack, which appeared to target children, has shocked the nation. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as “appalling and deeply shocking news”. King Charles III said he and Queen Camilla were “deeply shocked to hear of the absolutely horrific incident in Southport” and sent their “deepest condolences” to the families affected.

Taylor Swift also expressed her dismay on Tuesday, saying in a live post on Instagram: “The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is still overwhelming me and I am just in complete shock.”

“They were just little kids in dance class,” she added. “I don’t know how I can ever express my sympathy to these families.”

The worst attack on children in Britain occurred in 1996, when 43-year-old Thomas Hamilton shot dead 16 kindergarten children and their teacher in a school gym in Dunblane, Scotland. In the following years, private ownership of almost all handguns was banned in Britain.

Mass shootings and killings with firearms are rare in the UK; by March 2023, knives were used in around 40% of homicides.

Flowers and toys were left at the center. What was once a meeting place for expectant mothers and small children has been transformed into a place of mourning for the small community.

Patrick Hurley, MP for Southport, said in a statement on Monday that he was en route from Westminster to Southport. “This is shocking news for our community, but we will stand strong against this senseless violence and I will work with other community leaders to help our town and our community move on from this horrific incident,” Hurley said.