Two children killed and six in a critical condition after Southport stabbings

Two children have died and nine others are injured after a stabbing in Southport, north of Liverpool, this morning.

All of the nine children who were injured were stabbed and six are in a critical condition.

Two adults are also in a critical condition.

Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: "We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked."

The attacks took place at a community centre called Hart Space, often used for mother and baby classes, on Hart Street in the Merseyside town, Sky News understands.

A "Taylor Swift Yoga and Dance Workshop" aimed at children aged between primary school years two and six (7-11 years old) was taking place at Hart Space at the time of the attack.

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Merseyside Police declared a "major incident" after it received reports of the stabbings just before midday today.

Armed police arrested a 17-year-old boy, from Banks in Lancashire, and seized a knife but urged the public to avoid the area - as one local businessman described the scene as like a "horror movie" and said "mothers were screaming" in the aftermath.

Chief Constable Kennedy has said the boy is originally from Cardiff in Wales.

The North West Ambulance Service said some of the victims were taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

Other victims were taken to Aintree University Hospital, as well as Southport and Formby Hospital.

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