A third child has died from their injuries following a “ferocious” knife attack at a Taylor Swift themed dance class in Southport, police have confirmed.
Detectives announced on Tuesday that a nine-year-old girl passed away in hospital in the early hours of the morning. The two other fatalities were girls aged six and seven years old, officers said.
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The tragic news comes as police continue to question a 17-year-old boy arrested in connection Monday’s attack, which was described as “like a horror movie” by eyewitnesses.
Eight other children suffered stab wounds sustained during the onslaught and five of them remain in a critical condition.
Two hero class teachers are also fighting for their lives in hospital after bravely trying to defend youngsters from the attack shortly before midday on Monday.
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: “Sadly we can confirm that a third child has passed away as a result of injuries sustained in a knife attack in Southport yesterday morning, Monday 29 July.
“The nine-year-old girl died in hospital in the early hours of this morning, Tuesday, 30 July. We can confirm that the children who died yesterday were girls aged six and seven years.
“Eight other children suffered stab wounds sustained during the attack, and five of them are in a critical condition. Two adults are also in a critical condition after being injured during the incident.”
One of the organisers left fighting for her life was named locally as Leanne Lucas, 35, said to be a former school teacher. Well wishers said they are praying for “beautiful” and “creative” Ms Lucas, who is “passionate about helping children”.
Meanwhile US singer Taylor Swift said she is “completely in shock” after the “horror” of the knife attack.
In a statement released on social media on Tuesday, Swift said: “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 the 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 laid flowers at the police cordon on Tuesday, alongside local MP Patrick Hurley and other officials.
The tragedy unfolded at a fully booked dance workshop on Hart Street, where youngsters aged six to 11 were taking part in summer holiday activities.
Horrified onlookers told how they heard children and parents screaming before 13 ambulances and dozens of police rushed to the scene.
Emergency services said the scene was “horrific” and “chaotic” as they arrived at the children’s club.
A local resident has told of a parent of one of the wounded children pulling up outside their house with their child and screaming “help my child’s been stabbed my child’s been stabbed”.
Sarah, 45, told The Independent: “A parent had an injured child in the car and pulled up outside our house. She got a call from a medic. She was in distress. My husband helped her back to the scene. We’re hoping the child is okay.”
She added: “She stopped and was just saying, ‘Help, my child’s been stabbed, my child’s been stabbed.’
Survivor Jonathan Hayes was stabbed in the leg after attempting to disarm the attacker, according to reports.
The businessman’s wife Helen told The Telegraph: “Our office is in the same building as the dance studio. He heard screams and went outside, saw the attacker, saw that he had hurt a child and tried to take the knife off him and got stabbed in the leg.”
She said she had been with her husband at the hospital on Monday afternoon, adding: “He’s very upset that he wasn’t able to be more help. Physically he will be OK, mentally I don’t know.”
Meanwhile police also urged the public not to speculate about the incident after a name was wrongly circulated on social media.
“This name is incorrect and we would urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing,” a police spokesman added.
“This incident is not currently being treated as terror-related and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with it.”
All the casualties are being treated in hospital, including children’s hospitals in Liverpool and Manchester.
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