A third girl has died in the UK after one of the worst attacks on children in decades

Ivana Kottasová, CNN

(CNN) — The United Kingdom was near shaken aft 3 children were stabbed to decease and 8 others were injured successful a weapon onslaught successful Southport, successful 1 of nan worst assaults against children successful nan state successful decades.

The onslaught took spot astatine a Taylor Swift themed arena astatine a creation schoolhouse successful nan seaside municipality successful northwest England, sparking disbelief complete why would anyone target children having nosy during nan summertime holiday.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said nan “whole country” was profoundly shocked by nan “truly awful” attack, while King Charles III said he was “profoundly shocked” by nan “utterly horrific incident.”

Here is what we cognize astir nan attack.

What happened?

The constabulary said Monday that 2 girls, aged 6 and 7, were killed and six of nan 9 that were injured were successful captious condition. A time later, nan constabulary said different child, a 9-year-old girl, died arsenic a consequence of her injuries early Tuesday morning.

Two adults were besides critically injured, constabulary said, adding that they suffered their injures because they “were bravely trying to protect nan children who were being attacked.”

Merseyside Police said nan onslaught took spot astatine a Taylor Swift arena astatine a creation schoolhouse successful Southport connected Monday morning, and nan unit said it received a telephone for thief conscionable earlier midday. Emergency services, including 13 ambulances and different specialized resources, were sent to nan segment and a “major incident” was declared.

Suspect arrested – but nary motive known yet

The constabulary said a 17-year-old insignificant was arrested astatine nan segment connected “suspicion of execution and attempted murder.” He was taken to nan constabulary position and was being interviewed connected Tuesday morning, nan constabulary said.

Merseyside Police’s Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said nan fishy was from Banks successful Lancashire and was primitively from Cardiff successful Wales.

She said nan fishy was equipped pinch a weapon erstwhile he walked into nan schoolhouse successful Southport, but springiness nary different specifications connected him aliases his evident motive, different than saying nan onslaught was not being treated arsenic terror-related.

Worst wide stabbing onslaught against kids

The incident connected Monday is nan worst wide stabbing onslaught targeting children successful nan UK successful decades – and perchance ever. While weapon crime has risen crossed nan state complete nan past decade – pinch a flimsy dip during nan pandemic years – wide stabbing incidents are highly rare.

The number of weapon crimes successful England roseate to 48,341 successful nan twelvemonth to April 2024, from 27,667 successful nan twelvemonth to April 2014, according for nan Office for National Statistics. More than a 4th of nan incidents took spot successful London.

But children person been targeted successful nan UK successful different types of attacks. Several children, including an 8-year aged woman were killed successful a panic onslaught astatine nan performance of popular vocalist Ariana Grande successful Manchester successful May 2017.

And 16 children aged betwixt 5 and 6 were murdered successful a schoolhouse shooting successful nan Scottish municipality of Dunblane successful 1996. The massacre stunned nan state and led to a prohibition connected nan backstage ownership of each handguns successful mainland Britain.

What has been nan reaction?

Many successful nan area and crossed nan state were near successful disbelief aft learning astir what happened. Southport is simply a mini seaside edifice and a celebrated summertime destination for families.

Local business proprietor Colin Parry was 1 of nan group who called nan police, and said nan incident successful Southport was for illustration a “scene successful a scary movie,” according to PA Media.

“It’s for illustration thing from America, not for illustration sunny Southport,” Parry said.

Taylor Swift, whose euphony was nan taxable of nan creation people that was targeted by nan attack, said Tuesday she was “completely successful shock.”

“The scary of yesterday’s onslaught successful Southport is washing complete maine continuously, and I’m conscionable wholly successful shock. The nonaccomplishment of life and innocence, and nan horrendous trauma inflicted connected everyone who was there, nan families, and first responders. These were conscionable small kids astatine a creation class. I americium astatine a complete nonaccomplishment for really to ever convey my sympathies to these families,” Swift wrote connected Instagram connected Tuesday.