9-year-old becomes third child to die after U.K. mass stabbing attack at Taylor Swift dance class

A third child has died following Monday’s devastating mass stabbing attack in a seaside town in northwest England that left 10 others injured, authorities said. 

The assailant entered Hart Space, a community center hosting a Taylor Swift-themed dance event for children in Seaport, and started to attack those inside with a knife. 

Two girls, identified Tuesday as Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, were killed in the attack Monday. A 9-year-old girl, identified as Alice Dasilva Aguiar, died in the hospital early Tuesday as a result of injuries from the attack, Merseyside Police said in an update, bringing the death toll to three. 

King’s family wrote a tribute that was shared by police: “No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as we try to deal with the loss of our little girl Bebe.”

The family of Aguiar 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.”

Eight other children suffered stab wounds and five were in critical condition. Two adults, who police said bravely tried to protect the children, are also in critical condition. 

The 17-year-old suspect, described as a male from the nearby village of Banks, remains in police custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. His name was not released as he is a minor.

Police said that a knife was seized from the scene Monday.

Authorities said they were working on determining the motive for the bloodshed, but the incident is not being treated as terror-related. Police said they’re not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack. 

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact police. 

The brutal attack that appeared to target children has shocked the nation. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident “horrendous and deeply shocking news.” King Charles III said he and Queen Camilla were were “profoundly shocked to hear of the utterly horrific incident in Southport” and offered their “most heartfelt condolences” to the families impacted.

Taylor Swift also voiced her shock on Tuesday, saying in an Instagram live post: “The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously and I’m just 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.”

The worst attack on children in the U.K. unfolded in 1996, when 43-year-old Thomas Hamilton shot 16 kindergarteners and their teacher dead in a school gymnasium in Dunblane, Scotland. The U.K. subsequently banned the private ownership of almost all handguns.

Mass shootings and killings with firearms are rare in Britain, where knives were used in about 40% of homicides up to March 2023.

Flowers and toys have been left at the center, once a site for expecting mothers and young children to come together, turned into a mourning ground for the small community. 

Patrick Hurley, the member of Parliament for Southport, said in a statement Monday that he was heading to Southport from Westminster. “This is shocking news for our community, but we will stand strong against this mindless violence and I will work with other community leaders to help our town and our community pull through this horrific incident,” Hurley said.