What was the motive behind ‘ferocious’ knife attack in England that killed three children?
A teenager has killed three children and seriously wounded seven other people at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at a seaside town in northwest England.
A 17-year-old male stabbed two children to death and wounded nine others, six of them seriously, and left two adults in critical condition in northwest England. One of the wounded children, a nine-year-old girl, later died at the hospital from her injuries. The adults are believed to have been hurt as they tried to protect the children.
The teenage suspect was arrested on murder and attempted murder charges for the events that unfolded in Southport, a seaside town north of Liverpool.
The killings took place at a fully booked Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga workshop for participants aged six to 11, attended by 25 children. According to details posted online, the two-hour class, which included bracelet-making, was led by a yoga instructor and a dance instructor.
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What was the motive behind ‘ferocious’ knife attack in England that killed three children?
Local police called the attack “ferocious”, and said they were shocked to see the number of casualties. While they say they have not yet determined the motive for the attack, they are not considering it a terror-related incident.
Authorities are not searching for other people in connection with the murders, and continue to hold the suspect in custody.
Police are discouraging online speculation regarding the identity of the teenager, as some posts have included the supposed name of the attacker. They say the name is incorrect, and that they are still questioning the suspect.
The suspect, who remains unidentified, lives in the nearby village of Banks, five miles from where the killings occurred, according to police. He was born in Cardiff and moved to the Southport area in 2013. The BBC reports that the boy’s parents are from Rwanda.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed shock at the “horrendous” incident, while King Charles sent his condolences to all those who were affected by the “truly appalling attack.”