A third child died on Tuesday in a knife attack by a teenager in the British town of Southport.
The nine-year-old girl died in hospital on the morning of July 30. Two other victims aged six and seven died on Monday, July 29.
The five injured children are in a critical condition, and two adults who “bravely tried to protect the children” are also in hospital with serious injuries, according to police. All of the injured suffered stab wounds.
The incident happened in Southport, near Liverpool, in the morning hours of July 29. The attack happened at a children’s dance club during a group class.
A 17-year-old young man living in the neighbouring town of Banks has been arrested on suspicion of assault. The motives for his actions have not yet been established. British police are not treating the incident as terrorism-related and assume the attacker acted without accomplices.
Witnesses reported that the attacker arrived in Southport town centre in a taxi without paying the fare and was wearing a mask. He then proceeded to attack primary school children at a dance club.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the attack as “truly horrific” and thanked emergency services for their work.
