July 29 (UPI) -- Police arrested a 17-year-old male suspect Monday after a stabbing left two children dead and 11 people injured at a children's dance workshop in the seaside town of Southport in northwest England.
Nine of the injured are children, with six in critical condition. The two adults also are in critical condition, Merseyside police said.
"We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked," chief constable Serena Kennedy said at a news conference.
Kennedy said "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."
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The children at the event were 6 to 10 years old.
The suspect from Banks, Lancashire, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, police said.
No other suspects are being sought, and the incident isn't being treated as terror-related, police said.
"The investigation is at its early stages and the motivation for the incident remains unclear," Kennedy said.
Merseyside police said they responded to the scene about noon local time Monday in Southport, about 20 miles north of Liverpool. The town has a population of 94,421 in 2021.
The children were taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, while others were driven to Aintree University Hospital, Southport and Formby Hospital.
North West Ambulance System said it dispatched a total of 13 vehicles to the scene to use for victims.
Joanne Newman said daughter described the incident.
The mother 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."
Colin Parry, owner of Masters Vehicle Body Repairs, told the BBC: "It's like something from America, not like sunny Southport."
Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote on X, "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."
King Charles said in a statement: "My wife and I have been profoundly shocked to hear of the utterly horrific incident in Southport today. We send our 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."
