Authorities have confirmed that a third child has succumbed to injuries following a violent stabbing incident involving a 17-year-old boy at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class for young children in the United Kingdom on Monday.
The victim, a 9-year-old girl, passed away early Tuesday due to her injuries, according to the BBC. Five other children and two adults are still in critical condition at local hospitals.
Swift expressed that she is “completely shocked” and is still trying to process “the horror” of the incident.
“These were merely little kids at a dance class,” she shared in an Instagram story. “I find myself at a total loss for how to express my condolences to the affected families.”
UK STABBING SPREE CLAIMS 2 CHILDREN’S LIVES, 9 OTHERS INJURED AT TAYLOR SWIFT-THEMED EVENT: ‘DEEPLY SHOCKING’
Floral tributes left on Hart Street, Southport, Britain, on July 30, 2024, honoring two children who tragically died and the nine others injured in a severe knife attack during a Taylor Swift event at a dance school on Monday. A 17-year-old male from Banks, Lancashire, has been arrested on grounds of murder and attempted murder in connection with the incident. (James Speakman/PA via AP)
The 17-year-old suspect is currently in custody on charges of murder and attempted murder. Investigators are trying to uncover the motive behind the rampage in Southport, located in northwest England.
Locals have been leaving flowers and stuffed animals as a tribute at the police cordon, on a street lined with brick houses in the seaside town near Liverpool, affectionately known as “sunny Southport,” which attracts tourists from various areas of northwest England.
Pop star Taylor Swift shared that she is “completely in shock” and is still trying to come to terms with the knife attack incident in the U.K. (Marcelo Endelli/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
Witnesses reported scenes resembling “a horror movie” as bloodied children fled the scene just before noon on Monday. The suspect was quickly apprehended on allegations of murder and attempted murder. Police indicated he was born in Cardiff, Wales, but had resided for several years in a village approximately three miles from Southport. He has not yet been formally charged.
Authorities have stated that the attack is not being treated as terror-related, and no additional suspects are being sought at this time.
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Law enforcement officials investigate the scene in Southport, England, where a man has been detained, and a knife has been recovered following a series of injuries from a stabbing incident on Monday, July 29. (James Speakman/PA via AP)
“We believe that the adults injured were courageously attempting to shield the children from the attack,” stated Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, as reported by the Associated Press.
The stabbing occurred at the Hart Space community center, targeting a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance class for children aged 6-11.
Witnesses recounted hearing screams and observing children fleeing the location, bloodied and terrified.
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First responders at the scene of the stabbing incident in Southport on Monday. (James Speakman/PA via AP)
“They were in the street, fleeing from the nursery,” described Bare Varathan, a nearby shop owner. “They had been stabbed in multiple areas, such as the neck, back, and chest,” he indicated.
The dance instructor, Leanne Lucas, is being hailed for her bravery as she attempted to shield the children during the attack; she is reportedly one of the two adults who are in critical condition.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled the stabbing incident as “horrendous and deeply shocking.”
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“My thoughts are with everyone affected. I am grateful to the police and emergency services for their prompt action,” he noted. “I am being updated as the situation continues to evolve.”
Prince William and his wife Catherine expressed that “as parents, we cannot fathom what the families, friends, and loved ones of those who were killed and injured in Southport today are experiencing.”
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
