Thousands attend vigil as tributes paid to three girls killed in Southport stabbings

A third child has died after Monday’s knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport, police have said.

The nine-year-old girl died in hospital on Tuesday morning, Merseyside Police said.

The first two deaths – of girls aged six and seven – were confirmed by the force on Monday evening.

Five other children and two adults injured in the incident in Hart Street on Monday morning are still in a critical condition in hospital, a statement released on Tuesday afternoon said.

The exact conditions of three other children injured are not known – but they are all being treated in hospitals across Liverpool and Manchester.

John Hayes, 63, a businessman who works in the same building, was one of the adults injured, his wife Helen told Sky News. She said he was stabbed in the leg as he tried to disarm the attacker.

A 17-year-old boy from Banks in Lancashire was arrested and is being held on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. An area in the village, which is just outside Southport, was cordoned off by police on Monday.

Taylor Swift has said she is “completely in shock” on Instagram, and that the “horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously”.

Football match cancelled and vigil planned

Southport FC was due to take on Morecambe FC in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday evening.

However, the club said in a post on X on Monday night: “Given the tragic events of today and following extensive engagement with relevant local stakeholders we have taken the decision to cancel tomorrow night’s pre-season friendly with Morecambe FC out of respect to those who have so tragically lost their lives, and to those who will be deeply impacted by this horrible tragedy.”

The club’s lounge is being opened between 10am and 3pm today “for those who wish to gather”, the club added.

Labour MP for Southport Patrick Hurley also confirmed a vigil will take place in the town on Tuesday evening.

Local footballer Jordan Lussey offered free places on his football camp for any children distressed by the incident.

‘Swifties for Southport’ crowdfund thousands

A cordon is still in place at the scene of the attack, where those killed and injured were attending the Taylor-Swift themed holiday club for six to 11-year-olds at ‘The Hart Space’.

It was organised and led by yoga and primary school teacher Leanne Lucas and dance teacher Heidi Barlow.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands have been raised by Taylor Swift fans via a “Swifties for Southport” JustGiving page.

The money will go to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital where some of the victims are being treated and has been organised by the Taylor Swift UK & EU Facebook group.

Flowers and teddies have been left near the scene. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who laid flowers there on Tuesday, described the incident as “a horrific attack… this is worse than any parent’s worst nightmare”.

The King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales were among those who sent their “deepest sympathies” and “love, thoughts and prayers” to the families of those affected.

‘Like a horror movie’

Witnesses have told of their distress in the immediate aftermath of the attack.

Some described the attack as “like a horror movie”, and others spoke of hearing “screaming” and seeing bleeding children running from the incident.

Read more:
Witnesses describe stabbings
What we know so far

One parent – who did not want to be named – said his daughter managed to escape.

“My daughter was in it and she was traumatised. She ran away and she’s safe,” he said.

Emergency services said the scene was “horrific” and “chaotic” as they arrived at the children’s club.

A woman who attends antenatal classes at the Hart Space told Sky News she “can’t fathom why someone would choose that space to attack”.

“It’s where mummies and mummies-to-be go to be together and to be safe,” she said.

Anita, another Southport resident, told Sky News she went to lay flowers on Tuesday morning because “there’s nothing we can do.We just felt so hopeless, so we just wanted to do something”.

How events unfolded

Police were called to reports of a knife attack at the premises in Hart Street at 11.47am on Monday.

Merseyside Police’s Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said when officers arrived they were “shocked to find” several children had been “subjected to a ferocious attack and had suffered serious injuries”.

She added: “It is understood that the children were attending a Taylor Swift event at a dance school when the offender, armed with a knife, walked into the premises and started to attack the children inside.”

The force’s statement on Tuesday 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.

“Yesterday, officers arrested a 17-year-old male from Banks and he remains in police custody.

“A name has been shared on social media in connection with the suspect in the incident in Southport. This name is incorrect and we would urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing.

“This incident is not currently being treated as terror-related and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with it.”

Watch The UK Tonight with Sarah-Jane Mee on Sky News from 8pm for a special programme from Southport