Three young girls were killed and ten others injured in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport. The suspect, a 17-year-old male has been arrested by the police.
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The attack occurred at 11:47 a.m. (10:47 GMT) on Monday, July 29, 2024, at a community center on Hart Street in Southport.
The location was hosting a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga workshop specifically designed for children aged 6 to 11.
The workshop was part of a children’s summer program organized by two instructors, a yoga teacher and a dance teacher. The event was sold out attracting many local children eager to participate in the activities.
Witnesses report that the suspect arrived by taxi refusing to pay the fare upon arrival. Shortly after, he entered the class and began his attack.
Eyewitnesses described the with children running and screaming, some covered in blood. Several attempted to escape while adults intervened to protect them.
Police and emergency services arrived on the scene. The North West Ambulance Service dispatched 13 ambulances and specialized resources to transport victims to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Aintree University Hospital and Southport and Formby District General Hospital.
Alice Dasilva Aguiar succumbed to her injuries early on Tuesday, July 30. Her family released a statement saying, “Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do, our princess. You’re always our princess, and no one will change that.”
Elsie Dot Stancombe was among the first victims to be dead on Monday. She was described as a bright and joyful child.
Bebe King also died during the attack on Monday. Her family expressed their devastation stating, “No words can describe the loss of our little girl Bebe.”
Eight children and two adults remain hospitalized following the attack. Five children and both adults are in critical condition. The adults are believed to have been injured while trying to protect the children during the attack.
The families of the deceased have expressed their heartbreak through public statements shared by the police.
The King family stated, “No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as we try to deal with the loss of our little girl Bebe.”
Similarly, the Dasilva Aguiar family paid tribute saying, “Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do, our Princess.”
An online fundraising effort organized by Taylor Swift fans has raised over £100,000 for the families of the victims.
A 17-year-old male suspect was arrested shortly after the attack. He was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
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The suspect was born in Cardiff, Wales and had been residing in a village approximately three miles from Southport.
As of now no motive has been disclosed and the police have clarified that the attack is not being treated as terror-related.
According to witness reports, the suspect arrived by taxi did not pay for his fare and was described as aggressive when confronted.
A shop owner nearby described seeing children fleeing from the community center, many with visible injuries to their necks, backs and chests.
A children’s entertainer from Southport expressed fear and concern for his own 5-year-old daughter stating that the incident left him feeling helpless.
A group of Taylor Swift fans launched an online fundraiser called Swifties for Southport, which quickly raised over 100,000 pounds (approximately $128,000) to assist the families of the victims.
Knife crime has been a growing concern in the UK with the Office for National Statistics reporting a rise to 48,341 knife-related incidents in the year leading up to April 2024, up from 27,667 in 2014.
The UK has strict gun control laws resulting in one of the lowest firearm crime rates globally. Knives remain a common weapon in homicides and violent crimes. In the decade leading up to 2023, 38% of homicide cases involved sharp objects.
Southport has experienced sporadic incidents of knife crime. Just a day before the children’s dance class attack, a 38-year-old man was arrested for attempted murder after stabbing an 18-year-old transgender woman in a separate incident.
In April, police arrested three individuals in connection with a stabbing in March.
In April 2024, a sword-wielding attacker killed a 14-year-old boy and injured four others in London.
In June 2022, a man in Nottingham fatally stabbed two college students and a 65-year-old man. In June 2020, a failed Libyan asylum seeker stabbed three men to death in Reading.
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