Nine-year-old girl dies following knife attack on children in Southport
The third child injured in Monday's knife attack in the United Kingdom has died. The victim was a nine-year-old girl. Five other children are in critical condition. Additionally, two caregivers who tried to protect the youngest children during the attack were seriously injured.
30 July 2024 19:24
The third child, a victim of the knife attack on Monday in Southport, United Kingdom, has died. Five children, aged between six and eleven, remain in critical condition.
The nine-year-old girl passed away on Tuesday morning, the police reported. On Monday, following the attack, two other girls, aged six and seven, died.
United Kingdom: Knife attacker struck during children's activities
The attack occurred during summer dance workshops, advertised as "a morning of yoga, dancing, and bracelet making to the music of Taylor Swift." The condition of the two women who organized the classes and looked after the children is severe. During the attack, they attempted to protect the youngest children.
On Monday, the police reported that the attacker had been apprehended. On Tuesday, the 17-year-old suspect was being questioned. The suspect, born in Cardiff, Wales, had lived for several years in a small town a few miles from Southport. According to AP, the motives behind the suspect's actions are unknown, but the police are not treating the incident as a terrorist attack.
"I don't know how to express my sympathy to these families"
Taylor Swift herself commented on the tragedy on social media, stating, "I'm just completely in shock... The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families and first responders." "These were just little children at dance classes. I don't know how to express my sympathy to these families," she emphasised. According to Reuters, fans of the artist have raised over €59,000 to help the families of the deceased children.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, King Charles III and his wife, and the heir to the throne, Prince William, sent condolences to the victims' families. The Home Secretary of the United Kingdom, Yvette Cooper, stated that "it's beyond every parent's worst nightmare" and urged people to refrain from speculation while the police investigate. She explained that the name circulated in the media, allegedly belonging to the perpetrator, is inaccurate.
