Two children killed in knife attack in Southport

Two children have been confirmed dead after the stabbing in Southport, north of Liverpool. A further eleven people were injured when the perpetrator attacked an event with a Taylor Swift theme.

» Updated: July 30 2024

» Published: July 29 2024

Two children killed in knife attack in Southport
Photo: James Speakman/PA via AP/TT

Share this article

At a dramatic press conference, Police Chief Serena Kennedy announced with great sorrow that she could confirm that two children had been killed in the attack. Eleven people were injured, and the situation is critical for six of them.

A 17-year-old has been arrested and detained for the deed.

The police describe how he came in from the street at lunchtime and began attacking the children, while the adults in the premises tried to protect them.

"Tried to protect the children"

A witness tells the news agency AP how bloody children came running from the event, where dance and yoga with a Taylor Swift theme were held for children aged six to eleven years.

Two adults are said to be among the seriously injured.

We believe that the adults who were injured with all their courage tried to protect the children who were attacked, said Serena Kennedy at her press conference.

I have difficulty imagining the pain and suffering that the families of the victims are going through.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said directly after the announcement that he – and the country – were in deep shock after the deed.

Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, friends, and the local community, said Starmer.

No terrorist suspicions

The police are not looking for any other perpetrators and describe the motive as unclear, but add that there are no suspicions of a terrorist-related crime.

A businessman near the premises believes he saw between six and seven girls with knife wounds.

It feels like something that happens in the USA, not here in sunny Southport, he says to BBC.

Quiet area

Even the British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed sorrow and dismay over the attack, while praising the quick police response.

The alarm about the attack came just before 12 o'clock local time.

Southport, with around 100,000 inhabitants, is located on the coast outside Liverpool.

The place where the attack took place is described as a quiet residential area.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Halonen Reflects on Putin's Priorities in Ukraine Conflict
3 MIN READ

Halonen Reflects on Putin's Priorities in Ukraine Conflict

Putin Arrives in China for SCO Meeting with Global Leaders
1 MIN READ

Putin Arrives in China for SCO Meeting with Global Leaders

Turkmenistan Cultural Workers Ordered to Lose Weight by National Day
1 MIN READ

Turkmenistan Cultural Workers Ordered to Lose Weight by National Day

Hamas Confirms Death of Gaza Military Chief Mohammed Sinwar
1 MIN READ

Hamas Confirms Death of Gaza Military Chief Mohammed Sinwar

Modi Discusses Ukraine Conflict with Zelenskyj Before Meeting Putin
1 MIN READ

Modi Discusses Ukraine Conflict with Zelenskyj Before Meeting Putin

Finnish Air Force Removes Swastika from Flags
1 MIN READ

Finnish Air Force Removes Swastika from Flags

Norway Faces Severe Impact from Landslides and Rockslides
2 MIN READ

Norway Faces Severe Impact from Landslides and Rockslides

Houthi Prime Minister Killed in Israeli Air Strike in Yemen
1 MIN READ

Houthi Prime Minister Killed in Israeli Air Strike in Yemen

EU Criticizes US Visa Ban on Palestinian Delegates for UN Assembly
2 MIN READ

EU Criticizes US Visa Ban on Palestinian Delegates for UN Assembly

Australia to Relocate Migrants to Nauru Under New Agreement
1 MIN READ

Australia to Relocate Migrants to Nauru Under New Agreement

Half a Million Evacuate Due to Severe Floods in Eastern Pakistan
1 MIN READ

Half a Million Evacuate Due to Severe Floods in Eastern Pakistan

Humanitarian Aid to Northern Gaza at Risk of Being Cut Off
2 MIN READ

Humanitarian Aid to Northern Gaza at Risk of Being Cut Off

Ukrainian Politician Andrij Parubij Shot Dead in Lviv
1 MIN READ

Ukrainian Politician Andrij Parubij Shot Dead in Lviv

Hunger Crisis in Gaza: Malnutrition Claims More Lives
1 MIN READ

Hunger Crisis in Gaza: Malnutrition Claims More Lives

Car Drives into Crowd in Évreux, France: One Dead, Five Injured
1 MIN READ

Car Drives into Crowd in Évreux, France: One Dead, Five Injured

EU Faces Growing Pressure to Allocate Frozen Russian Assets to Ukraine
1 MIN READ

EU Faces Growing Pressure to Allocate Frozen Russian Assets to Ukraine

Texas Approves Bill Allowing Lawsuits Over Abortion Pill Distribution
1 MIN READ

Texas Approves Bill Allowing Lawsuits Over Abortion Pill Distribution

Colombian Politician Miguel Uribe Londoño Runs for President After Son's Tragic Death
2 MIN READ

Colombian Politician Miguel Uribe Londoño Runs for President After Son's Tragic Death

Norway Landslide Near Trondheim: Search for Missing Man Continues
3 MIN READ

Norway Landslide Near Trondheim: Search for Missing Man Continues

Court Blocks Trump's Expanded Fast-Track Deportation Plan
2 MIN READ

Court Blocks Trump's Expanded Fast-Track Deportation Plan