Trigger Warning: The following story details child abuse.
Taylor Swift is “absolutely shocked” after the horrific knife attack at a dance class celebrating her music in Southport, England left three children dead and eight others injured. The singer posted a handwritten note on her Instagram Stories on Tuesday morning (July 30) responding to the incident.
“The horror of yesterday's attack in Southport continues to wash over me, and I am completely in shock…” Swift wrote. “The loss of life and innocence and the horrific trauma that was caused to everyone who was there, the families and the first responders. These were just little kids in a dance class. I am at a complete loss as to how I will ever convey my condolences to these families.”
According to Associated Press, Merseyside Police said a 17-year-old boy from Cardiff was arrested in the incident at the community center and a knife was seized after the attack in the seaside town in northwest England near Liverpool. Police said the suspect was taken into custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attack “horrible and deeply shocking.” At press time, the suspect's name had not been released and there was no information on a motive for the attack, although officials do not believe it is terrorism-related.
Witnesses described a scene in which they saw children covered in blood running from the center where the Swift-themed dance and yoga event for kids 6-11 was being held with the promise of “a morning of yoga, dance and Taylor Swift-themed bracelet making. ”
According CNN, two children died on Monday and a third died of his injuries on Tuesday. “The nine-year-old girl died in hospital in the early hours of this morning, Tuesday 30 July. We can confirm that the children who died yesterday were girls aged six and seven years old,” police said in a statement. “A further eight children suffered stab wounds sustained during the attack, and five of them are in a critical condition. Two adults are also in a critical condition after being injured during the incident.”
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said officers believed the adults who were injured were “bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked”. King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla released a statement saying they were “deeply shocked to hear of the absolutely horrific incident in Southport”.
After a mass shooting at a primary school in Scotland in 1996 that killed 16 students and a teacher, Parliament banned private ownership of most handguns and semi-automatic weapons. There have been no school shootings in the UK since, although blade attacks remain a serious issue.
At the time of publication, Swift's fans had organized a Swifties for Southport fundraiser for the victims' families that had raised nearly $93,000. Swift is in the final stretch of European dates on her Eras tour, with the next show scheduled for Thursday (August 1) in Warsaw at PGE Narodowy, where, after three shows, she'll move on to a three-night stand in Vienna before closing . out with five nights at London's Wembley Stadium from August 15-20.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-reaction-shock-deadly-stabbing-attack-dance-class-england-1235742840/
