Schools Send Parents Reassuring Messages After Southport Knife Rampage
An academy school in Essex has sent out a message to parents to reassure them their children are safe, after the Southport knife rampage.
Text messages saying doors are locked and that no one can enter the building without being buzzed have been sent this morning amid the tragic stabbing incident at a summer school yesterday.
Laura Jones from Romford said she received a message today from the academy school she sent her 8-year-old daughter to, reassuring parents their children are safe.
'We are big Swifties in the house, and I don't know why but it brings it closer to home. Her stage school finale is a Taylor Swift medley so it feels closer,' she told MailOnline.
Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was also confirmed to have died on Monday as nine other children and two adult women were rushed to hospital
Six-year-old Bebe King was pronounced dead shortly after the attack in Southport on Monday
Another of the children killed in the horror Southport stabbing attack was today named as Alice Aguiar, nine
She continued: 'My husband didn't want to send my daughter into her summer stage school today. We were both a little more mindful this morning sending her off and knowing where she is.
'I've never thought, and I send her to the same drama school every Wednesday, I never thought that I should be scared sending her somewhere like that.'
Read More
BREAKING NEWS
Pictured: Three girls aged six, nine, and seven stabbed to death by knifeman
Mrs Jones added that although she appreciated receiving the messages from the school, she was dismayed that they even felt they had to send a text.
'It was sad to get the message this morning saying that the doors are locked, and no one can get in unless they are buzzed in. It's nice to hear, but it's sad they had to even send that message.
'All the parents in the WhatsApp group were saying thank you for reassuring us we were worried this morning.'
This comes after three girls were stabbed to death by a hooded knifeman who stormed a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport and seven people, including five children, were rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Bebe King, six, was pronounced dead shortly after the attack, with heartbreaking photographs show her cuddling her father, Ben King.
She attended Churchtown Primary School in Southport, MailOnline understands.
Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was also confirmed to have died on Monday as nine other children and two adult women were rushed to hospital.
Earlier today, 'happy smiley' Alice Aguiar, nine, was named after she died in hospital in the early hours of Tuesday.
The local teacher saved 16 children as the 25-strong class aged between six and 11, while nine children were taken to hospital. One has since died, with five still in a critical condition
Brave Leanne Lucas, 35, (pictured) who organised the Taylor Swift-themed workshop, suffered stab injuries after the man entered the venue through the unlocked door, which was left open amid the scorching heat
Floral tributes pile up by the side of the road as locals flock to share their sympathy after the tragedy
Five further children, aged between six and 11, were in a critical condition alongside two female adults, among them hero teacher Leanne Lucas, who 'bravely tried to protect them'.
Alder Hey Children's hospital this afternoon released a statement confirming that seven children had been taken to the site for treatment. One of those was Alice, and of the others, two remain in a critical condition, a spokesperson said.
Read More
Liverpool legends Robbie Fowler and Phil Thompson attend the scene of Southport stabbing attack
A 17-year-old boy remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder and is being questioned following the incident in Southport, Merseyside, on Monday.
Merseyside Police confirmed that a 17-year-old boy, originally from Cardiff but living in Banks, was arrested and is in police custody. It's believed the 'hooded' attacker arrived in a taxi coincided with parents picking up their children
In a statement, Bebe's family said: 'No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as try to deal with the loss of our little girl Bebe.'
Churchtown Primary School released a statement this afternoon and said: 'Our whole Churchtown Primary School community is utterly heartbroken by the tragic events that have taken place. We stand united with all of our families and the wider Southport community during this incredibly difficult time.'
The family of Alice also paid tribute to their 'princess'.
They said: 'Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our Princess, like we said before to you, you're always our princess and no one would change that. Love from Your Hero Daddy and Mummy.'
Devastated relatives of Alice said she had been taken by a 'despicable human being.'
An aerial view of Hart Street, where a horrifying knife attack took place just before midday
Emergency crews and forensic teams descended on the scene after 13 people were stabbed
North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) sent 13 ambulances, specialised resources of its Hazardous Area Response Team, Air Ambulance and Merit Doctors to the scene
As the nation reeled from the senseless violence, the attack was branded 'utterly horrific' by King Charles and 'horrendous and deeply shocking' by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The shocking nature of the frenzy - likened to a scene out of a 'horror movie' - was laid bare in a press conference update this evening.
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: 'My officers were called to reports of a stabbing at 11.47 this morning at an address in Southport.
'When they arrived, they were shocked to find that multiple people, many of whom were children, had been subjected to a ferocious attack and had suffered serious injuries.
'It is understood that the children were attending a Taylor Swift event at a dance hall when the offender, armed with a knife, walked into the premises and started to attack the children inside.
'We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited Southport this afternoon and thanked emergency service workers who responded to the knife attack, telling them: 'I hope you feel proud of the part that you played in the most difficult circumstances, to do what you could for those young lives.'
He added: 'It is sometimes really important in life just to come and say a simple thank you to all of you, so let me do that, on behalf of myself, on behalf of the government, on behalf of the country - thank you.'
The fully-booked club for children, which was advertised as a dance and yoga workshop as well as bracelet-making, quickly became something 'like a horror movie', witnesses to the deadly stabbings have said.
Locals said the alleged knifeman arrived at the dance studio wearing a black hooded top and facemask in a taxi and got out without paying.
Emergency services rushed to the scene after reports of a stabbing spree
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper pays tribute to the child victims of the horror knife attack
They said the suspect then walked into the studio through a front door that was unlocked for fire safety reasons.
Emergency services said the scene was 'horrific' and 'chaotic' as they arrived at the children's club.
Police said the suspect, who was born in Cardiff, is from the village of Banks, just outside Southport, and a road in the area was cordoned off by detectives on Monday afternoon.
All the casualties are being treated in hospital, including children's hospitals in Liverpool and Manchester.
At the scene today, flowers and teddies were left by the police cordon. One message in a 'Thinking Of You' card said 'thoughts and prayers' are with those affected and was signed: 'Love - Southport.' Another said: 'Fly high with angels little ones.'
In a social media post, Taylor Swift shared her horror at the 'loss of life and innocence' at the workshop.
She wrote: '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 THPT (lambangcapgiarenhat.com) 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.'
A JustGiving page - set up by Taylor Swift fans - has already raised more than £100,000 to help families affected by the tragedy and pay for the two funerals, with more than 6,500 donations.
Taylor Swift said she is 'completely in shock' after the 'horror' of the Southport knife attack
The attack happened at a Taylor Swift themed yoga and dance workshop
Sir Keir Starmer today opened Cabinet by acknowledging the 'truly horrific' event in Southport.
'He said the thoughts of the whole Cabinet and the entire country would be with those who were attacked and their families who are going through an unimaginable ordeal,' the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.
'He added that it was hard to find words to express what the grieving families and community must be going through.'
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper visited the town to lay flowers at the police cordon on Hart Street in Southport this morning.
Ms Cooper, Southport MP Patrick Hurley, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service's Chief Fire Officer Phil Garrigan and Merseyside police and crime commissioner Emily Spurrell walked to the cordon together, each holding a bouquet of flowers.
A crew from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service also paid tribute. About a dozen firefighters walked together to the cordon on Hart Street and laid flowers, with a message to say they were 'thinking of everyone involved'.
Keir StarmerBanksTaylor Swift