Two Children Killed in Stabbings in UK’s Southport, 17-Year-Old Arrested
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Two children have died following a knife attack in northwest England, police say, adding they had arrested a 17-year-old male on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
Nine others including other children were injured, six of them critically, in the attack on a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance workshop in Southport town near Liverpool on Monday, Al Jazeera reported.
Police said they had seized a knife from the suspect after being called to a property in Southport at 11:50 am (10:50 GMT). They added that the motive behind the incident was unclear.
The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said it “dispatched 13 ambulances along with specialized resources” and had taken patients to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Aintree University Hospital and Southport and Formby hospital.
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital said its emergency department was extremely busy, asking parents only to bring their children in if it was urgent.
Meanwhile, police officials have restricted flights to Southport and have cordoned off the location where the incident occurred.
Local business owner Colin Parry, one of the people who called police, told the domestic Press Association news agency that he believed several “young girls” had been stabbed.
“The mothers are coming here now and screaming. It is like a scene from a horror movie,” Parry told the UK PA news agency.
“It’s like something from America, not like sunny Southport,” he added, noting that the police have now caught the suspect.
British PM Starmer, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Mayor of Liverpool Steve Rotheram have all expressed their concern and said that they’re monitoring the situation closely.
Starmer said the incident was “horrendous and deeply shocking”.
“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,” he added on X.
Knife crime incidents have become increasingly common across England and Wales in recent years. According to the Home Office, in the 12 months to December 2023, some 14,577 offences were recorded.
Prior to winning the general elections in July, Starmer had vowed to tackle knife crime in the UK, and said it would be “an absolute priority”.
At the King’s Speech in July, Starmer’s government introduced a new crime bill for the country that also seeks to crack down on the sale of ninja and samurai swords, in an effort to tackle knife crime.