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The United Kingdom was left reeling in horror after a brutal knife attack in Southport claimed the lives of three children and left eight others grievously injured.

CNN reports that this harrowing incident marks one of the most devastating assaults against children the nation has witnessed in decades.

The attack took place at a Taylor Swift-themed event at a dance school in a seaside town in northwest England, with questions over how deranged the attacker must have been to target innocent children having fun during the summer holiday.

Initially, police said that two girls, aged six and seven, were killed, with six of the nine that were injured in critical condition. Then, the following day, officers said that another child, a nine-year-old girl, had died as a result of her injuries.

Police named the girls who died in the attack as Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, Bebe King, 6, and 7-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe.

Two adults were also critically injured, police said, adding that they suffered their injuries because they “were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked.”

 

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Emergency services, including 13 ambulances and other specialised resources, were sent to the scene at midday where the “major incident” was declared.

While the families barely have words for the loss of each of their precious girls, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the “whole country” was deeply shocked by the “truly awful” attack, with King Charles III adding that he was “profoundly shocked” by the “utterly horrific incident.”

Taylor Swift, whose music was the theme of the dance class that was targeted by the attack, said Tuesday she was “completely in shock.”

“The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I’m just completely in shock. The loss 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 am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families,” Swift wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.

[source:cnn]