CHURCH leaders have expressed their shock at a fatal knife attack on a children’s dance class in Southport, Merseyside, on Monday morning.
Two girls, aged six and 7, died on Monday. A 3rd girl, aged nine, died from her injuries in hospital within the early hours of Tuesday, Merseyside Police said.
Five other children and two adults who were hospitalised remain in a critical condition.
The stabbings happened at a completely booked summer holiday dance and yoga class on the Hart Space studio, about one mile east of the town centre.
The Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Serena Kennedy, said on Monday evening: “A 17-year-old male from Banks in Lancashire, who was born in Cardiff, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and has been taken to a police station where he might be interviewed by detectives.”
Merseyside Police said in an announcement on Tuesday that the 17-year-old male remained in police custody. “This incident is just not currently being treated as terror-related and we are usually not in search of anyone else in reference to it.”
Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme on Tuesday morning, the Vicar of Holy Trinity, Southport, the Revd Dr Thomas Carpenter, said that members of the community were “horrified and unable to know how this might have happened. Southport is a quiet, kind place during which nothing ever happens, so . . . individuals are struggling to know it.”
The church is 2 streets away from the location of the attack. “One of my parishioners got here back from walking her dog to seek out the road plagued by bleeding children, which is just not something that is definitely processed,” he said.
Asked how he had responded to the community, Dr Carpenter said that he considered the incident to be “one act of evil, one act of cruelty, that has been the occasion to a whole lot of acts of kindness and love and care, and that the place during which they live is summed up in those a whole lot of acts of kindness, quite than on this one act of cruelty and evil”.
It was also a spot of bravery, too, he said. “Two of the people currently being treated in hospital had put themselves in harm’s option to try to save as many children as they may.”
The Bishop of Liverpool, Dr John Perumbalath, told Radio 4’s World at One on Tuesday that local clergy knew among the families who had been affected. “Being a part of that community, that have of shock and grief and now anger — all of that is an element of our response, and that’s what actually has happened. The Church could be very much there, with charities and emergency services, to support people in that journey in grief and sadness.”
He continued: “It is the type of tragedy that could be very unusual for that community, and even for the priest and church there, it’s the primary time they’re ministering in that type of context. The very first thing we do is pray . . . for those affected, for individuals who mourn, and for individuals who care look after the affected, and support and look after the families who’ve lost their dear ones. . . Quite a lot of clergy know these families.”
Churches were open, he said, and were considered a “protected space” inside the community, a spot for reflection and of peace, where “people can come together. . . where they may feel something out of the odd”.
“The community could be very resilient, it seems. . . People are gathering and talking and sharing their grief.”
Asked what he could say to people in situations akin to this, he said: “The most significant message is that we’re there with you and for you. I don’t think any words are going to make sense of the situation. We should be actually there, joining in that pain, experiencing what our community goes through.”
Speaking concerning the “two brave adults” who’re reported to have been injured attempting to guard the kids, he said: “There is plenty of kindness, plenty of good will amongst people to support each other.”
On Tuesday, it was confirmed that the Taylor-Swift themed class — for six- to 11-year-olds — had been organised by Leanne Lucas. The 35-year-old yoga teacher has been commended, on social media, for her bravery. Her condition has not been made public.
Ms Swift posted an announcement on Instagram: “The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me constantly and I’m just completely in shock. The lack of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families and first responders. These were just little kids at a dance class. I’m at an entire loss for the best way to ever convey my sympathies to those families.”
The King and Queen, Prime Minister, and church leaders were amongst those to precise their shock in messages of condolence.
The Area Bishop of Warrington, the Rt Revd Beverly Mason, posted on X: “Across Southport and Liverpool united in grief on the devastating, utterly shocking and heart shattering events of Hart Lane. For details of Prayers, Vigils and Listeners contact your local church.”
The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Revd Philip North, said: “It’s unimaginable to assume the pain of the families caught up within the Southport incident.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury wrote on social media on Monday evening: “My prayers are with the victims of the appalling stabbings in Southport today — and particularly with the parents and family members of the 2 children who were killed. I pray that God would draw near and luxury them on this unimaginable grief.
“I pray too for individuals who were injured, their families and people caring for them, and for individuals who witnessed and responded to this devastating attack.”
The Archbishop of York also said that he was “praying for the souls of those that died and for those injured . . . also for his or her families and all who’re caring for them.”
Another Anglican church near by, Christ Church, Southport, was attributable to hold a vigil on Tuesday evening. A press release posted on its Facebook page said: “Our hearts and prayers exit to all those that have been affected. For those fighting in hospital, for those whose world has fallen apart, for individuals who are afraid, for individuals who first responded, for individuals who know someone that was there, for our town.”
The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, who laid flowers on the police cordon on Tuesday morning, described the attack as “utterly heartbreaking. My heart goes out to the kids, their parents, the brave adults attempting to protect them, and the families of all affected. It is unimaginable what they might be going through.”
She promised to “do what we will to support the community who might be deeply shaken”.
The community has arrange a JustGiving page to support the families affected. The funds raised might be donated to the Alder Hey Children’s Charity, to support with funeral costs. Donations have reached greater than £83,000, after an original goal was set of £13,000.
