Two children have died and nine others are injured – six critically – after a horror attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop on Monday.

Armed police and paramedics swooped on the town of Southport, Merseyside, just before midday after a knifeman walked into the dance school and launched a ‘ferocious attack’ that left mothers arriving to pick up their kids screaming in horror.

As well as the two fatalities, 11 others, including nine more children, were stabbed at the sold-out dance, yoga and bracelet making workshop, which was just minutes from finishing.

Six of these are fighting for their lives in hospital, as are two adults, who police said ‘bravely tried to protect them’ from the attack at the Hart Space Studios on Hart Street.

A 17-year-old boy, from the nearby village of Banks in Lancashire, remains in custody after being arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

As the nation reeled from the senseless violence, the attack was branded ‘utterly horrific’ by King Charles and ‘horrendous and deeply shocking’ by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The shocking nature of the frenzy – likened to a scene out of a ‘horror movie’ – was laid bare in a press conference update this evening.

Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: ‘My officers were called to reports of a stabbing at 11.47 this morning at an address in Southport.

‘When they arrived, they were shocked to find that multiple people, many of whom were children, had been subjected to a ferocious attack and had suffered serious injuries.

‘It is understood that the children were attending a Taylor Swift event at a dance hall when the offender, armed with a knife, walked into the premises and started to attack the children inside.

‘We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked.

‘As a mum and a nana, I can’t begin to imagine the pain and suffering that the families of the victims are going through.’

The casualties were taken to three hospitals, including the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool which has declared a major incident.

Merseyside Police confirmed that a 17-year-old boy, originally from Cardiff but living in Banks, was arrested and is in police custody. It’s believed the ‘hooded’ attacker arrived in a taxi coincided with parents picking up their children from the workshop.

Police said they were called to reports of a stabbing in Southport at 11.47am. Detectives are still trying to establish the motive for this ‘tragic incident’, adding: ‘We would urge people not to speculate while the investigation is ongoing.’

The force said that the incident was not being treated as ‘terror-related’ and that they are ‘not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident’.

North-West Ambulance Service Cheshire and Merseyside head of service Dave Kitchin told the press conference that the knife attack will leave a ‘lasting impact on the whole community’.

Following the press conference, King Charles released a statement saying: ‘My wife and I have been profoundly shocked to hear of the utterly horrific incident in Southport today.

‘We send out most heartfelt condolences, prayers and deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who have so tragically lost their lives, and to all those affected by this truly appalling attack.’

The Prime Minister also offered his condolences to the victims and their families and friends, saying ‘the whole country is deeply shocked’.

‘I know I speak for everybody in the whole country in saying our thoughts and condolences are with the victims, their families, their friends and the wider community,’ he added.

‘It’s almost impossible to imagine the grief that they’re going through and the trauma that they are going through.’

He also thanked the emergency services who responded to the ‘most difficult of circumstances’.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said: ‘My prayers are with the victims of the appalling stabbings in Southport today – and especially with the parents and loved ones of the two children who were killed.

‘I pray that God would draw near and comfort them in this unimaginable grief. I pray too for those who were injured, their families and those caring for them, and for those who witnessed and responded to this devastating attack.’

Mothers arriving to pick up their children at the end of the workshop were greeted with a scene that was likened to something from a ‘horror movie’ as injured children were carried outside by emergency workers.

Police have also cordoned off a street with officers stationed outside a house in Banks, about three miles from the stabbing incident. It is not yet clear if the two incidents are linked.

Two police cars are stationed, with more police vehicles and officers behind the cordon.

Locals said Matrix police, the armed unit of Merseyside Police, descended on the address shortly after the incident in Southport.

Earlier on Monday, police said a male had been arrested and a knife had been seized. The force urged people to avoid the area but said there was ‘no wider threat’ to the public.

Ryan Carney, who lives with his mother Hayley on Hart Street, said he rushed home from work to be with her after she witnessed the terrible aftermath. He said: ‘She went out and there was a woman who was screaming, saying she can’t find her child.

‘They let her into the cordon and she ran down and all she could hear was screaming and crying, saying, ”That’s my child! That’s my child!”’

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King Charles said he and Queen Camilla were ‘profoundly shocked’ by the ‘utterly horrific incident’

There are thought to have been around 25 children aged between six and 11 taking part in the workshop for schoolkids in years two through to six when the horrific attack took place.

Onlookers said they saw a man in a ‘black hood’ arrive in a taxi with a knife before people were left on the street ‘screaming’ and ‘in tears’.

Locals said they saw children running from the building and assumed there had been a car accident because a vehicle was covered in blood.

But they quickly realised something more sinister had occurred when they saw ‘seven to ten kids’ who were ‘injured and bleeding’ outside the nursery.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she was ‘deeply concerned’ by the attack.

Witness Bare Varathan, 35, who owns a corner shop on Hart Street, said he was called by a staff member who told him, ‘Boss, get to the shop!’

He said: ‘I saw seven to ten kids outside the nursery. They were injured, bleeding.

‘They were in the road, running from the nursery. They had been stabbed, here, here, here, everywhere. [Mr Varathan indicated the neck, back and chest area].

‘They were all aged about ten. One of them was really seriously injured.

‘I hope they will be OK. Only two police jeeps and ambulances arrived, then armed police came and took him out of the nursery. Somebody told me he had arrived in a taxi and had a knife.’

One resident, who lives on Hart Street but did not want to be named, said he was at home about midday when a woman pulled up outside in her car, screaming.

He said: ‘She was screaming ‘my daughter’s been stabbed’. The woman was in hysterics. Then two police cars rushed up the street the other way.

‘It was a mum with her 10-year-old daughter who had been stabbed. I helped to get her back up to where the police cars and ambulances were.

‘She didn’t look great but my focus was on getting her back up the street to get help.

‘When I got back up the street there were a couple of kids on the floor being seen to by paramedics and, as I came back, more police cars were going down and more ambulances gradually started to arrive.’

A BBC reporter at the scene described one girl on a stretcher covered in blood with ‘her parents running after her’.

The victims have been taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Aintree University Hospital and Southport and Formby hospital.

A staff member at the Hart Space, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she had heard the suspect was wearing a ‘black hood’ when he reportedly stabbed multiple children.

They said: ‘There were probably 25 children there because that’s the max we have there and they had reached the max.

‘I don’t even know if the teachers are ok, they posted the other day that they were full for this Taylor Swift holiday club this morning.

‘When I got there, there was a guy who was absolutely distraught, in a mess.

‘He’d seen two children run out of The Hart Space, and he thought they had got hit by a car because the car was just full of blood at the side of the car.

‘But it was actually that the children who had been stabbed had fallen into the car.

‘It was apparently a guy with a black hooded top on.’

A local business owner, who was one of the people who called the police, said the incident in Southport was like a ‘scene in a horror movie.’

Colin Parry, owner of Masters Vehicle Body Repairs on Hart Street, said he believed six or seven ‘young girls’ had been stabbed.

He said: ‘The mothers are coming here now and screaming. It is like a scene from a horror movie.’

‘Police have got him. It’s like something from America, not like sunny Southport.’

A staff member at The Bridge Cafe on Hart Street told MailOnline: ‘We were told somebody’s been stabbing children.

‘It’s chocka. It’s all cordoned off, police cars at every junction. Parents are stood outside waiting.’

A local resident said she left work immediately to check on her daughters when she heard news of the attack, adding that parents have been checking in with one another.

Joanne Newman told BBC News: ‘I got a call from a very, very good friend of mine, I was in work completely oblivious to it and as soon as she told me I literally ran out of work.

‘I don’t know how I managed to drive back to be fair – my priority was just my girls, my girls, my girls.

‘I knew my eldest daughter was taking her to a friend’s house and I’m just so thankful to God that they’re safe.’

She continued: ‘Nobody can believe it, all the local mums have checked in with one another – I’m sure we’re all going to know somebody from that awful, that poor group. But the parents I checked in on, my girls and I just ran to the crowd because I just thought, you put your NHS head on don’t you?

‘The mother that I was just consoling, just the look on her face because she knew something had happened to her child, it’s like ‘oh my gosh’, how do you even comprehend – there’s nothing you can do.’

Ms Newman said her elder daughter – who had been taking her younger sister to a friend’s house – heard a ‘sinister scream’ around the same time of the stabbing.

She told BBC News: ‘She said she heard quite a sinister scream and literally she’d got back from taking my daughter – we don’t know roughly what time it was but it was similar timing, and then all the commotion had gone on, so looking back at the timescales that potentially could have been – but she said it was a very untoward, unusual scream, so we don’t know.’

A large police cordon has been put up around the building, with police officers guarding either end.

Officers and vehicles can be seen from a distance inside the cordon, including scenes-of-crime officers in white boiler suits.

Dozens of police cars, vans, fire engines and ambulances are also assembled a short distance away at a local school.

Steve Rotheram, mayor of Liverpool City Region, says he is ‘deeply concerned’ by the incident.

‘I have been in contact with the police and am being kept updated on the situation,’ he says in a social media post.

He urges the public to wait for official updates and to not spread ‘unconfirmed speculation and false information’.

College of Policing Chief Constable Sir Andy Marsh said his ‘thoughts are with everyone affected’.

‘My thoughts this afternoon are with everyone affected by the horrific and deeply distressing incident in Southport,’ Mr Marsh said on X.

‘I’m grateful to the police officers and other emergency services responding.’

A local parent, who did not wish to be named, said his daughter was ‘traumatised’ by the attack.

He said: ‘My daughter was in it and she was traumatised. She ran away and she’s safe.’

An air ambulance was seen in a nearby car park and people in the area said local Whatsapp groups told neighbors to ‘lock your windows and doors’, the Liverpool Echo reported.

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) sent 13 ambulances, specialised resources of its Hazardous Area Response Team, Air Ambulance and Merit Doctors to the scene.

It said: ‘So far, NWAS has treated eight patients with stab injuries who have been taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Aintree University Hospital and Southport and Formby hospital.’

In a post on X, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the incident in Southport was ‘horrendous and deeply shocking’.

He said: ‘Horrendous and deeply shocking news emerging from Southport. My thoughts are with all those affected.

‘I would like to thank the police and emergency services for their swift response.

‘I am being kept updated as the situation develops.’

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: ‘I am deeply concerned at the very serious incident in Southport. All my thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those affected.

‘I have spoken to the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner to convey full support to the police and thanks to the emergency services responding.’

She thanked the emergency services for their ‘swift and courageous response’ to the ‘awful incident’ in Southport after reports of multiple stabbings.

She told the Commons: ‘I know the whole House will be concerned at the extremely serious incident that has taken place in Southport.

‘All of our thoughts will be with the family and loved ones of those who are affected.

‘I have been in contact with the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and the Merseyside Mayor to convey my support to the police and thanks to the police and emergency services for their swift and courageous response.

‘The response to this awful incident is currently unfolding and the House and the public will be updated in due course.’

Merseyside’s Police & Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: ‘I am deeply shocked and concerned about the major incident in Southport this morning.

‘An arrest has been made. I would urge people to be careful about what they share online and not to speculate about this incident.’

Merseyside Police said: ‘We can confirm that emergency services are in Southport following a major incident this morning, Monday, July 29.

‘At around 11.50am, we were called to a property on Hart Street to reports of a stabbing.

‘There are a number of reported casualties and more details will be confirmed when possible.

‘Armed police have detained a male and seized a knife. He has been taken to a police station.

‘Please avoid the area while we deal with this incident. There is no wider threat to the public.’

The force added: ‘There are a number of reported casualties and more details will be confirmed when possible.’

North West Ambulance Service said: ‘We’re attending a major incident on Hart Street, Southport following reports of multiple stabbings in which we have dispatched multiple resources.

‘We’re assessing the situation and working with emergency partners.’

Alder Hey Children’s Hospital has declared a ‘major incident’.

A spokesperson said: ‘The Trust is working with other emergency services to respond to this incident and our Emergency Department is currently extremely busy.

‘We ask parents to only bring their children to the Emergency Department if it is urgent. All other appointments and services are running as normal.’

Broadcaster Adele Roberts sent a message of support to the families affected by the fatal knife attack in her hometown of Southport.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Southport-born radio DJ Roberts wrote: ‘Thinking of everyone affected by the tragic events in Southport today.

‘My heart is breaking for the families.’

Fellow broadcaster and Strictly star Dan Walker described the incident as ‘truly awful’ as he sent his support.

‘Thinking of all the families of the children involved. We live in strange times’, he added in a post on X.

Loose Women panellist Judi Love said she was ‘praying for the families and community of Southport’.

Former England striker Michael Owen, who played for Liverpool between 1996 and 2004, said: ‘I just can’t find the words. I’m literally sickened by the world we live in. By the country we live in.

‘Every F****** day something happens that makes my stomach churn. And today is a new low. I’m praying for everyone involved in the shocking events in #Southport.’

Earlier in the day, Southport MP Patrick Hurley said he was ‘deeply concerned’ by the reports coming from Merseyside Police.

In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, he said: ‘I am deeply concerned by the reports coming from Merseyside Police about a major incident on Hart Street in Southport today.

‘I am hoping for the best possible outcomes to the casualties affected.

‘My thoughts go out to all those affected, their loved ones and to the entire community.

‘The police have confirmed that an individual involved in the attack has now been detained.

‘I am repeating the advice of the police to avoid the area whilst the police and ambulance teams support this incident.’

Southport Football Club said: ‘We are in ongoing dialogue with Merseyside Police and have offered full use of the club’s facilities as an emergency response centre if required.

‘The thoughts of all at the club are with those affected by today’s events.’

Gavin Stephens, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said he had received a call from the chief constable of Merseyside about the stabbings in Southport.

While he did not have detailed information about what has happened, he said: ‘My thoughts are with everybody involved because it sounds shocking.’

Donna Jones, chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said: ‘I am deeply concerned to hear about the major incident in Southport today. My thoughts are with the children and families injured. This incident is one that has shaken the community, not just in Southport but across the UK.

‘Well done to Merseyside police for apprehending the suspect quickly and confirming he is in police custody. The police have asked the public not to speculate on social media in order to ensure the police investigation can take place as needed.’

Right Reverend Dr John Perumbalath, Bishop of Liverpool, said: ‘Like so many, I am shocked and saddened by the news from Southport. My prayers are, and will remain, with all those affected by this tragedy.

‘I am deeply grateful for the quick response of all the emergency services and pray for all those called to care for the victims and support those affected by this incident.

‘I know events such as this are unsettling for the community and I pray for peace, calm and reassurance for all affected.’