A 17-year-old male has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after a stabbing attack that left two children dead and nine others injured in Southport.
Colin Parry, who owns a business next to the attack site on Hart Street, described the incident as “definitely intentional,” with the perpetrator stabbing children multiple times. Parry recounted seeing a colleague carrying a young girl covered in blood, trying to keep her alive.
Witnesses reported horrific scenes, with parents arriving to pick up their children and finding them critically injured or dead. The attack happened just before lunch, a time when many parents were arriving.
Emergency services were quickly on the scene, with a police officer and paramedics working to control the situation and provide medical assistance. Several victims were taken to local hospitals, including a children’s hospital, with six reported to be in critical condition.
One witness, Ryan Carney, shared that his mother saw police or ambulance workers carrying out bodies of young girls covered in blood. Another witness, Karolina Kaminska, described her fear upon hearing a helicopter and seeing reports on social media that someone had entered a nursery and stabbed the children.
The police declared a “major incident,” and the suspect was apprehended by armed officers. Two adults who attempted to protect the children are also fighting for their lives.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper addressed the incident in the House of Commons, emphasizing the severity and the need for ongoing vigilance and support for the affected families and community.
Local residents were advised to lock their windows and doors during the incident, with many expressing their terror and disbelief that such violence could occur in their community.
