A nine-year-old girl has become the third child to die after the Southport stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday dance class.
The latest tragedy comes a day after a knife rampage that had already left two girls – aged just six and seven – dead.
The latest child – aged nine – died in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Merseyside Police confirmed.
Five further children aged between six and 11 remain in a critical condition alongside two female adults who ‘bravely tried to protect them’.
A 17-year-old boy remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder and is being questioned following the incident in Southport, Merseyside, on Monday.
Police say they are not looking for anyone else and do not believe the incident is terrorism related.
Brave Leanne Lucas, 35, (pictured) who organised the Taylor Swift-themed workshop, suffered stab injuries after the man entered the venue through the unlocked door, which was left open amid the scorching heat
The local teacher saved 16 children as the 25-strong class aged between six and 11, while nine children were taken to hospital. One has since died, with five still in a critical condition
She organised the dance, yoga and bracelet making workshop in Southport with Heidi Barlow, also 35, a fellow dance teacher, (pictured) who advertised the event as being for ‘Swifties’
The fully-booked club for children, which was advertised as a dance and yoga workshop as well as bracelet-making, quickly became something ‘like a horror movie’, witnesses to the deadly stabbings have said.
Locals said the alleged knifeman arrived at the dance studio wearing a black hooded top and facemask in a taxi and got out without paying.
They said the suspect then walked into the studio through a front door that was unlocked for fire safety reasons.
Emergency services said the scene was ‘horrific’ and ‘chaotic’ as they arrived at the children’s club.
Police said the suspect, who was born in Cardiff, is from the village of Banks, just outside Southport, and a road in the area was cordoned off by detectives on Monday afternoon.
All the casualties are being treated in hospital, including children’s hospitals in Liverpool and Manchester.
At the scene today, flowers and teddies were left by the police cordon. One message in a ‘Thinking Of You’ card said ‘thoughts and prayers’ are with those affected and was signed: ‘Love – Southport.’ Another said: ‘Fly high with angels little ones.’
In a social media post, Taylor Swift shared her horror at the ‘loss of life and innocence’ at the workshop.
She wrote: ‘The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I’m just completely in shock.
‘The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families, and first responders.
‘These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.’
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Southport MP Patrick Hurley embrace as they pay tribute to those injured and killed in the horror attack
Firefighters from Merseyside joined members of the public in paying tribute to those killed and injured in the stabbings
Forensic officers were seen at the scene in Southport on Tuesday as investigations begin
Floral tributes pile up by the side of the road as locals flock to share their sympathy after the tragedy
A tribute to ‘the lost angels’ sits alongside a fluffy teddy bear in a heartbreaking message for the little children
Floral tributes near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, where two children died and nine were injured in a ‘ferocious’ knife attack
Sir Keir Starmer today opened Cabinet by acknowledging the ‘truly horrific’ event in Southport.
‘He said the thoughts of the whole Cabinet and the entire country would be with those who were attacked and their families who are going through an unimaginable ordeal,’ the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.
‘He added that it was hard to find words to express what the grieving families and community must be going through.’
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper visited the town to lay flowers at the police cordon on Hart Street in Southport this morning.
Ms Cooper, Southport MP Patrick Hurley, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer Phil Garrigan and Merseyside police and crime commissioner Emily Spurrell walked to the cordon together, each holding a bouquet of flowers.
A crew from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service also paid tribute. About a dozen firefighters walked together to the cordon on Hart Street and laid flowers, with a message to say they were ‘thinking of everyone involved’.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper pays tribute to the child victims of the horror knife attack
The attack happened at a Taylor Swift-themed workshop on Hart Street in Southport. Police later swooped on a property in Banks, five miles away
The Home Secretary stood for a few moments looking at the tributes before laying her flowers and reading some of the messages left by others.
She and Mr Hurley hugged. She is understood to have met with first responders in the town earlier.
Speaking to the media today, Southport MP Patrick Hurley said: ‘The town is in mourning, the town is in shock this morning. The incident that took place yesterday was uniquely horrific.
‘Southport’s a quiet seaside, coastal town. This has just sent shockwaves through the whole community.
‘It’s a very small town, Southport, and a lot of families across the area will be impacted directly.
‘I think at this stage we need to just reach out, make sure that there’s a level of community healing going on and make sure we give voice to the solidarity that people need right now.’
Taylor Swift said she is ‘completely in shock’ after the ‘horror’ of the Southport knife attack
The attack happened at a Taylor Swift themed yoga and dance workshop
Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, of Merseyside Police, said those injured had all suffered stab wounds in the ‘ferocious attack’.
She added: ‘We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked.
‘As a mum and a nana, I can’t begin to imagine the pain and suffering that the families of the victims are going through at this moment in time.
‘I wish to send my heartfelt condolences to them.’
Brave Leanne Lucas, 35, who organised the yoga and bracelet making class is among the adult victims fighting for her life in hospital.
The primary school supply teacher – who now teaches children’s yoga workshops – suffered stab injuries after a man entered the venue through the unlocked door, which was left open amid the scorching heat, and started attacking children.
Ms Lucas and her co-organiser and dance teacher Heidi Barlow, also 35, saved 16 children as the 25-strong class aged between six and 11.
Ms Barlow was also injured in the attack, although not seriously, MailOnline understands.
Two female adults were rushed to hospital after police say they ‘bravely tried to protect them’ from the attack at the Hart Space Studios on Hart Street.
Ms Lucas, who’s also a qualified primary school teacher, is the owner and founder of Enlighten, planned the two-hour session to coincide with the start of the school holidays.
Floral tributes near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, where two children died and nine were injured in a ‘ferocious’ knife attack
A person leaves flowers near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, where the event took place
Police officers near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, this morning following the stabbing yesterday
She was hailed today by relatives who paid tribute to her bravery and love for her students.
Pauline Bennett, 64, said: ‘She’s only tiny, she wouldn’t have stood a chance against a man with a knife, but she just wanted to protect those children.
‘I can’t imagine what she would have been thinking when he came through the door. It all happened so quickly, she just did what she could.
‘Her sister stayed at her bedside all night and her parents are with her now. We’re just hoping and praying that she’s going to be ok.
‘Leanne loves teaching children, it’s all she’s ever wanted to do. She just loves children.
‘It’s just heartbreaking that someone could do something like this.’
A former school friend said: ‘To my knowledge she organised it, she used to be a primary school teacher at a local school.
Ms Lucas – who taught in China and Dubai before the Covid pandemic hit – is a big fan of Taylor Swift, her aunt said.
A little girl is helped as she takes flowers to leave with the line of floral tributes
North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) sent 13 ambulances, specialised resources of its Hazardous Area Response Team, Air Ambulance and Merit Doctors to the scene
Emergency services rushed to the scene after reports of a stabbing spree
‘Then she came home in Covid and now this happens. She went to the Taylor Swift concert and she got a big poster of her for the kids.’
Posting a photo of Ms Lucas on Facebook, Sunshine Yoga wrote: ‘I’m absolutely devastated. Please please pray for Leanne.
‘Leanne came on my training course in December. A beautiful young creative girl who was so passionate about helping children.
‘I just can’t believe it. Please pray.’
Others described the news as ‘devastating’ and ‘heartbreaking’.
One Facebook user wrote: ‘I’m in shock. Thinking of you Leanne and everyone involved, love and prayers go out to you all.’
Another added: ‘Thank you for your bravery in defending your class. I pray you get to see how proud the whole town is of your actions today.’
According to Leanne’s Facebook page, she had only recently returned to the UK after a holiday in Italy that included a trip to Venice and the Dolomite Mountains.
Ms Barlow was a dance teacher at Southport Dance Academy, where she had recently taken time off to have a baby girl.
Wishing her luck last year, the school said: ‘We are sending you lots of love and hope you are enjoying all the quality time together.’
Reacting to the tragic news today, the academy posted on Instagram: ‘Thoughts and prayers for everyone affected by today’s shocking events. Southport together.’
Photos from her social media show her celebrating marriage two years ago and her paying tribute to her ‘gorgeous’ students as her classes were halted over lockdown.
