Southport stabbings: Third child dies as police release details on first two victims
The fully-booked club for children, which was advertised as a dance and yoga workshop as well as bracelet-making, quickly became something "like a horror movie", witnesses to the deadly stabbings have said.
A nine-year-old girl has become the third child to die after the Southport stabbings, Merseyside Police said.
Police today revealed the details of all three young girls killed after the attack at a Taylor Swift dance class workshop in Hart Street, Southport, yesterday morning.
The children who died yesterday were girls aged six and seven years old.
Merseyside Police said the girl, 9, died in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder following the incident at the dance studio in Hart Street.
A police statement said: "Sadly we can confirm that a third child has passed away as a result of injuries sustained in a knife attack in Southport yesterday morning, Monday July 29.
"The nine-year-old girl died in hospital in the early hours of this morning, Tuesday, 30 July. We can confirm that the children who died yesterday were girls aged six and seven years.
"Eight other children suffered stab wounds sustained during the attack, and five of them are in a critical condition.
"Two adults are also in a critical condition after being injured during the incident.
"Our specialist family liaison officers are providing support to the families at this terrible time.
"Yesterday, officers arrested a 17-year-old male from Banks and he remains in police custody."
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It's been reported that adults tried to protect the children - including the two dance class instructors - who bravely saved up to 16 children from the masked attacker.
Heroic Leanne Lucas, 35, who organised the yoga and bracelet-making class, is among those fighting for their lives in hospital following the "ferocious attack" that tragically resulted in the death of two children.
She - along with her co-organiser dance teacher Heidi Barlow - was stabbed by a man entering the venue through the unlocked door, which was left open due to the heat, and started attacking children.
A brave local businessman was also stabbed in the leg as he desperately tried to protect children from a knife-wielding attacker in Southport yesterday, it has been revealed.
