A group of 25 children were attacked during a ‘Taylor Swift-themed dance party’ in Southport today (Monday, July 29). Parents screamed in horror as one person, believed to be a child, was killed in the horrific attack, reported witnesses.
In total eight people were wounded allegedly said to be held for primary school children at The Hart Space just before midday. Around 25 youngsters were believed to have been taking part in the event when the horror unfolded at the hypnobirthing centre, which runs kids dance and craft clubs during the holidays.
Merseyside Police confirmed a man had been detained and that officers had seized a knife. The man has since been taken to a police station, Liverpool Echo reports.
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“Please avoid the area while we deal with this incident,” a Merseyside Police spokesperson said. “There is no wider threat to the public.”
The North West Ambulance Service said in an X/Twitter post that eight patients had been treated for stab injuries. The victims have be been taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Aintree University Hospital and Southport and Formby Hospital.
Colin Parry, owner of Masters Vehicle Body Repairs on Hart Street, who said he believed it was six or seven “young girls” who had been stabbed.
“The mothers are coming here now and screaming,” he told the PA news agency. “It is like a scene from a horror movie. Police have got him. It’s like something from America, not like sunny Southport.”
Liverpool Echo reporter Ben Roberts-Haslam said in a post shared to X/Twitter: “One man told me he saw a man carrying “as many children as he could” out the building away from the incident.”
A witness who lives near where the stabbing happened and did not want to be named described the incident as “unprecedented.” She told The Mirror: “There were four/five police cars and two helicopters. It was quite busy, normally it’s quite quiet in regards to sirens and things.”
“Occasionally you will hear sirens but it was chaotic to be honest,” she added. “Madness. It is not something you hear every day.”
In a post on X, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the incident in Southport was “horrendous and deeply shocking”. He said: “Horrendous and deeply shocking news emerging from Southport. My thoughts are with all those affected.
“I would like to thank the police and emergency services for their swift response. I am being kept updated as the situation develops.”
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