LONDON: Two children were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed event in north-western England on Monday. Police said it had detained a 17-year-old on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

Nine other children were wounded, six of them critically, and two adults were in a critical condition.

“We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children,” said Serena Kennedy, a police official.

She said emergency services arriving at the scene found “multiple people, many of whom were children, had been subjected to a ferocious attack and had suffered serious injuries”.

An advertisement posted online described the event as a yoga and dance workshop for children aged between six and 11.

Police said the motive for the attack was unclear, but it was not believed to be terrorism-related and they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the stabbings.

Armed police arrested the suspect and seized a knife after being called around 1050 GMT to an address in Southport, north of Liverpool.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2024