A horrifying knife attack in the seaside town of Southport, U.K. left two children dead and 11 other people wounded, including nine children and two adults. Witnesses described the scene as children fleeing a dance and yoga class covered in blood, with blood-curdling screams filling the air. Police arrested a 17-year-old male on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, although the motive was not immediately clear. Authorities confirmed that the attack was not terror-related, but a surge in knife crime in the U.K. has raised concerns and calls for stricter regulations on bladed weapons.
The attack took place during a Taylor Swift-themed workshop attended by children aged six to eleven, led by a yoga instructor and a dance instructor. Numerous children were reported as critically injured, with adults trying to protect them from the attacker. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the incident as “horrendous and deeply shocking.”
Police responding to the incident were stunned by the number of young victims and the severity of their injuries. Witnesses also expressed shock and horror at the carnage on the usually peaceful streets of Southport. The suspect, who was detained at the scene, resided in a nearby village and was originally from Wales. The incident has left the community devastated and has provoked an outpouring of grief and support for the victims and their families.
Source
Photo credit www.cbc.ca