00:00Here in the UK, two children have been killed in what police called a ferocious stabbing
00:06at a dance class in Southport in the North West of England. Nine more children have been
00:11injured, six are in a critical condition. Two adults were also being treated. Police
00:16responded to a major incident around lunchtime. Armed police have detained a 17-year-old male
00:22and have seized a knife. The force said there was no wider threat to the public and in the
00:27last hour we had this update from Merseyside police. A 17-year-old male from Banks in
00:33Lancashire who is originally from Cardiff has been arrested on suspicion of murder and
00:39attempted murder and is being taken to a police station where he will be interviewed by detectives.
00:47My officers were called to reports of a stabbing at 11.47 this morning and at address in Southport.
00:55When they arrived they were shocked to find that multiple people, many of whom were children,
01:00had been subjected to a ferocious attack and had suffered serious injuries. It is understood
01:07that the children were attending a Taylor Swift event at a dance school when the offender,
01:12armed with a knife, walked into the premises and started to attack inside the children.
01:19We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children
01:24who were being attacked. As a mum and a nana, I can't begin to imagine the pain and suffering
01:32that the families of the victims are going through at this moment in time and I wish
01:37to send my heartfelt condolences to them.
01:41That statement from Merseyside police a short time ago. The Prime Minister has also been
01:45responding a little earlier.
01:49The events today are just truly awful and I know the whole country is deeply shocked
01:57at what they've seen and what they've heard and I know I speak for everybody in the whole
02:01country in saying our thoughts and condolences with the victims, their families, their friends
02:09and the wider community and it's almost impossible to imagine the grief that they're going through
02:16and the trauma that they're going through. I do want to thank the emergency services
02:20of Merseyside police who've had to respond to the most difficult of circumstances today.
02:28Plenty more detail on that shocking stabbing attack this lunchtime on the BBC News website.
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