LONDON — A third child has died following a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance class in Southport, North West England, police said Tuesday.
The Merseyside police said in a statement that the 9-year-old girl died Tuesday morning of the injuries she suffered in the attack. Two other girls ages 6 and 7 were pronounced dead Monday.
The singer-songwriter responded Tuesday, expressing horror at the crime and sympathy for the victims.
“The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously,” Swift wrote on Instagram. It left her “completely in shock,” she said.
“These were just little kids at a dance class,” Swift added. “I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”
The three girls killed during the attack were identified by police as Bebe King, 6; Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7; and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9.
“No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as try to deal with the loss of our little girl,” Bebe’s family said in a statement shared by police.
Alice’s family also paid tribute to their daughter: “Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our Princess, like we said before to you, you’re always our princess and no one would change that.”
Elsie’s head teacher, Jennifer Sephton, described the 7-year-old as “one of a kind” and said she was a “loving and bright member of our wonderful community.”
Eight other children suffered stab wounds during the attack, and five of them are in critical condition, as are two adults, police said.
Police on Monday described the attack as “ferocious” and said armed officers arrested a teenage boy with a knife on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
Chief Constable Serena Kennedy of the Merseyside police said at a news conference Monday that the children were at a Swift-inspired event at a dance school when the offender, who was armed with a knife, walked into the premises and started to attack.
“We believe that the adults who were injured were trying to protect the children at the time they were attacked,” Kennedy said.
Police said Tuesday that the teenager, who has not been named, remains in custody, and they urged people to refrain from speculating about the incident.
“A name has been shared on social media in connection with the suspect in the incident in Southport,” police said in a statement. “This name is incorrect, and we would urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing.”
The attack is not being treated as terrorism-related, police said.
The attack has shaken the local community. Multiple witnesses described Monday’s events as “mayhem,” recalling the sight of children bleeding in the road and their mothers “screaming” for help.
Many local shops and pubs in the seaside town shut their doors Tuesday out of respect for the families affected.
Hundreds of people gathered in central Southport on Tuesday evening at a vigil for the young victims. Some mourners held pink balloons; others placed flowers.
A minute’s silence was held.
The mayor of Sefton, June Burns, told the crowd that it was a “dreadful, horrendous time” and that what unfolded in Southport on Monday was “unbelievable.”
“Reach out and be kind,” Burns said. “Let’s just let the families grieve in the way that they wish to grieve. I ask for calm and respect at this time.”
Niha Masih and William Booth contributed to this report.
Source link : https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/07/30/taylor-swift-southport-stabbing-attack/
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Publish date : 2024-07-30 15:38:03
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