Southport stabbings - what we know so far about knife attack (2024)

Southport stabbings - what we know so far about knife attack (1)Southport stabbings - what we know so far about knife attack (2)PA

Three young girls have been killed in a "ferocious" knife attack in Southport at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga event.

They have been named as six-year-old Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar.

Eight more children were injured, with five left in a critical condition, after the incident late on Monday morning. Two adults also suffered critical injuries, Merseyside Police said.

Armed officers detained a male and seized a knife, with police later saying that a 17-year-old boy had been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. The attack is not being treated as terror-related, police said.

Here is what we know so far about the attack.

How did the attack unfold?

Police were called to reports of a stabbing at a property on Hart Street in Southport just before 11:50 BST on Monday.

Officers were "shocked" to find multiple people, many of whom were children, had been subjected to a "ferocious attack" and had suffered serious injuries.

Police believe a group of children were attending an event at a dance school when a person armed with a knife walked into the building and attacked those inside.

Two adults were critically injured "bravely" trying to protect the children from the attack, police said.

Six-year-old Bebe King and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe died on Monday, while Alice Dasilva Aguiar, aged nine, died in hospital early on Tuesday morning from injuries sustained in the attack.

In a tribute issued through police, Bebe's family said: "No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as we try to deal with the loss of our little girl Bebe."

Meanwhile, the family of Alice said: "Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our Princess, like we said before to you, you're always our princess and no one would change that. Love from Your Hero Daddy and Mummy."

Her parents are from Madeira in Portugal but the family now lives in Southport, a Portuguese government minister said.

Southport stabbings - what we know so far about knife attack (3)Southport stabbings - what we know so far about knife attack (4)PA/Merseyside Police

As well as the three children who were killed, eight more suffered stab wounds in the attack and five were left in a critical condition.

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said it had treated 11 casualties with stab injuries.

Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool confirmed on Tuesday that a child had died at the hospital after the "heartbreaking incident in Southport".

Six other children continue to receive treatment with two remaining in critical care but currently in a stable condition, the hospital added.

Air ambulance doctors delivered "advanced emergency care" for one patient and accompanied them to hospital by road, the Great North Air Ambulance service.

Where did the attack happen?

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The incident happened at a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance event in the Merseyside town of Southport, about 10 miles north of Liverpool.

The event was taking place at the Hart Space studio, close to a vehicle repair garage, in Hart Street, roughly a mile east of the centre of town.

The holiday club was advertised as including a dance and yoga workshop as well as bracelet making, and was aimed at primary school children in Year 2-Year 6.

It is thought to have been fully booked with 25 children attending.

The BBC understands Leanne Lucas, thought to be 35, was running the holiday club. Her condition is not known, however tributes have poured in on social media, praising her bravery.

At the scene, flowers and teddies had been left by the police cordon, with one message saying: "Fly high with angels little ones."

Hundreds of people attended a vigil on Tuesday evening outside the Atkinson cultural centre, just a mile away from Southport's iconic pleasure beach.

People laid flowers and lit candles, and a minute's silence was held. Jane Burns, the mayor of Sefton, told the crowd: "I hope all of you here find some comfort from something, even if it's someone you meet here today, a stranger."

A JustGiving page called Swifties for Southport, set up by fans of the singer to raise money for Alder Hey Children's Charity, had more than £270,000 in donations as of 09:00 BST on Wednesday.

What do we know about the suspect?

Merseyside Police confirmed that armed police "detained a male and seized a knife" following the incident, and said there was no wider threat to the public.

The force later said a 17-year-old boy from Banks, a Lancashire village to the north of Southport, was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the stabbing. He was originally from Cardiff, they added.

He remains in custody and is being questioned about the incident, as police work to establish the motive for the attack.

Detectives were granted more time to question him on Wednesday.

One witness said the person they believed to be the attacker arrived in a taxi wearing a face mask and refused to pay the fare.

The BBC understands the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, moved to the Southport area in 2013. His parents are from Rwanda and he has an older brother also born in Cardiff.

Helen, a neighbour of the family while they lived in Cardiff, has spoken of her shock, and said the family had come from Rwanda.

She told the BBC: "They were a lovely young couple. They were little boys, they were boisterous. Mum was a stay at home mum, Dad was nice, he went to work every day. They had a small family car, a little hatchback."

Detectives from Counter Terrorism Policing North West are actively providing support to the investigation, the BBC understands, although police said the incident is not currently being treated as terror-related.

They said a name shared on social media in connection with the suspect is "incorrect", adding: "We would urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing."

What have witnesses said?

Eyewitnesses spoke of horrific scenes in the aftermath of the attack, with one describing it as the "worst thing I’ve seen in my life".

Multiple people reported seeing several young children bleeding in the road after being stabbed.

Speaking to Sky News, window cleaner Joel Verite said he heard a woman screaming "he's stabbing kids" as he drove near the dance studio.

Mr Verite said he saw a woman in a car with a child in the passenger seat, with "four or five more kids, covered in blood" in the back.

"It was like a scene you'd see on a disaster film, honestly. I can't even explain how horrific it was," he added.

Mr Verite said he carried a girl out of the car to get her to safety before returning to the studio.

Joel Verite described locking eyes with a man holding a knife inside the studio building before the alleged attacker "scurried off".

Asked what was going through his head, he said: "I'm really scared, all I saw was a knife... I'm there by myself at the bottom of the stairs."

The knifeman was later "tackled down to the floor" by police, he added.

Tim Johnson, a journalist with Eye on Southport, saw one girl on a stretcher who was seriously injured, and said paramedics were among "people in tears in the streets".

Several witnesses say they heard a woman running down the road screaming "my daughter's been stabbed".

Another witness said they took around 10 girls to safety in a nearby house.

Taylor Swift and leaders react

Southport stabbings - what we know so far about knife attack (7)Southport stabbings - what we know so far about knife attack (8)PA Media

Taylor Swift posted on her Instagram story on Tuesday, saying the horror of the attack was "washing over me continuously", and that she was "completely in shock".

"These were just little kids at a dance class," she added. "I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families."

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper visited Southport on Tuesday morning and laid flowers near the scene.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also travelled to the area later in the day, saying the attack "touches a nerve" with the whole country and it was "awful to contemplate what happened".

King Charles III said on Monday night that he and the Queen were "profoundly shocked".

In a statement posted on X, the King said they sent their "heartfelt condolences, prayers and deepest sympathies" to everyone affected by the "appalling attack".

The Prince and Princess of Wales also sent "love, thoughts and prayers" to the victims of the "heinous" attack, saying: "As parents, we cannot begin to imagine what the families, friends and loved ones of those killed and injured in Southport today are going through."

Unrest 'hijacks grief' of families

Violent protests broke out in Southport hours after the vigil was held.

At about 19:45 BST on Tuesday, demonstrators gathered and engaged in a stand-off with police officers.

Officers were pelted with bricks and a police van was set on fire, Merseyside Police said.

The force said eight of its officers sustained serious injuries.

In total, 27 officers were taken to hospital, and 12 were treated and discharged at the scene, the ambulance service said.

Police said the violence was believed to have involved English Defence League supporters.

The town's MP, Patrick Hurley, described the violence - close to a mosque - as "horrific", saying those involved had “hijacked the grief” of families.

On Wednesday morning, dozens of local residents with brushes and shovels helped with the clean-up operation after the protests.

Normal Wallis, chief executive of Southport Pleasureland, praised the "fantastic" response from the community.

He added: "It's horrendous what those hooligans have done last night. It was like a war scene. People from out of town just causing absolute mayhem."

Merseyside Police

Southport

Southport stabbings - what we know so far about knife attack (2024)

FAQs

Southport stabbings - what we know so far about knife attack? ›

Southport stabbings - what we know about attack. Three young girls have been killed in a "ferocious" knife attack in Southport at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga event. They have been named as six-year-old Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar.

Who was responsible for the Southport stabbings? ›

The Southport Stabbings Perpetrator Has Been Named to Prevent Rioting. On 1st August, a teenager appeared in court, charged with the Southport stabbings knife attack. He has been named as 17 year old Axel Muganwa Rudakubana.

What are the most common knives used in stabbings? ›

Carving knives are the most commonly used in stabbing incidents, particularly during domestic crimes, but also for fights in public places as they are easy both to obtain and dispose of.

Where is Southport Attacker from? ›

Axel Rudakubana, a 17-year-old British citizen born in Cardiff to parents from Rwanda, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder, and possession of a bladed article.

What is the most common knife attack? ›

The most common attacks include:
  • Circular attacks.
  • Straight attacks.
  • Stabbing actions.
  • Slashing actions.

Who was the killer in Southport? ›

Axel Rudakubana, from Bank in Lancashire, has been charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder.

What are the 3 knives every person should own? ›

Plenty of people end up with one of those big block sets and just carry on with their cooking lives, but in the majority of cases, those sets contain far more pieces than the average cook will ever need. In reality, most people can get away with just three: a chef's knife, a paring knife and a serrated knife.

What is the deadliest knife of all time? ›

Here are our picks:
  • US 1918 Mark I Trench Knife. Mark I Trench Knife is the deadliest knife ever built. ...
  • Stiletto Knife. Stiletto knife is an Italian knife, and one of the most lethal knives ever. ...
  • Push Dagger. Push dagger is a short dagger, popularly used for self defense these days. ...
  • Machete.
Dec 27, 2023

Where is Southport Island in Maine? ›

Just over two miles south of Boothbay Harbor is the tiny town of Southport. Here, there are plenty of ocean views, seasonal attractions, and nearby spots for fantastic food.

When was the Marine Lake in Southport built? ›

The foreshore was purchased by Southport Corporation in 1885 and a marine lake and park (South Marine Gardens) opened, adjacent to the south-west of the pier, in 1887. A further lake and park (North Marine Gardens), adjacent to the north-east of the pier, were opened in 1892.

When was Southport Marina built? ›

Completed in 1860, the pier measures at 1108 metres in length and stretches from the promenade, across the town's marina before reaching out into the Irish sea. In the Victorian era, the pier was the stage for numerous performers including the legendary Charlie Chaplin.

Who is most likely to carry a knife? ›

Did you know?
  • Individuals ages 14 to 36 years are more likely to carry a knife.
  • 99% of young people do not carry knives.
  • If you are found carrying a knife, you can spend up to four years in prison.
  • You can report knife crime or information about knife crime anonymously.

What kills more people, knives or guns? ›

Number of murder victims in the United States in 2022, by weapon used
CharacteristicNumber of murder victims
Handguns7,936
Firearms, type not stated5,704
Knives or cutting instruments1,630
Personal weapons (hands, fists, feet, etc.)*665
9 more rows
Jul 5, 2024

Where is knife crime the highest? ›

The West Midlands Police area has the highest rate of knife crime offences in England and Wales, latest national figures show. Offences involving a blade per 100,000 of the population, in the force area in 2023, totalled 180, up from 167 in 2022. The London Metropolitan Police force total was 165.

What is the most commonly used knife? ›

A chef's knife (sometimes called a cook's knife) is the most important knife to have in your kitchen. It has a wide blade between six and ten inches long and is used primarily for chopping, though it can be used for anything you want to do.

What knives do gangsters use? ›

"The Gangs of New York" used meat cleavers, axes, kitchen knives and stilettos more commonly than firearms.

What is the most common knife cut? ›

One of the most popular knife cuts, dicing, creates small blocks (aka “dice”) out of food items. There are three sizes of dice cuts: small dice, medium dice, and large dice. Small dice are foods cut into 1/4 x 1/4" cubes, medium diced items are 1/2 x 1/2" cubes, and large diced items are 3/4 x 3/4" cubes.

What knife stays sharp longest? ›

But if you're willing to put in a little extra care, carbon steel knives are generally sharper—and stay sharp for longer. “If you can look after cast iron, you can look after carbon steel,” says Josh Donald, co-founder of the renowned San Francisco knife shop Bernal Cutlery.

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