Three girls stabbed to death by a hooded knifeman who stormed a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport have been named today after 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.
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.
Six-year-old Bebe King was pronounced dead shortly after the attack in Southport on Monday
Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, chung chi; Read Home Page, was also confirmed to have died on Monday as nine other children and two adult women were rushed to hospital
Another of the children killed in the horror Southport stabbing attack was today named as Alice Aguiar, nine
Heartbreaking floral tributes and teddy bears were left at the scene of the attack on Tuesday afternoon
A tribute to ‘the lost angels’ sits alongside a fluffy teddy bear in a heartbreaking message for the little children
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.
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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.’
Her mother Alexandra Aguiar is understood to be originally from Caracas in Venezuela and her dad David Aguiar is from the Portuguese island of Madeira.
Relative Carina Aguiar, a hotel worker who lives in Camara de Lobos in Madeira, posted a link on her social media to news Merseyside Police had confirmed a third child’ had died following the attack and wrote tear emojis beside it.
Earlier she posted a photo of a black ribbon on her Facebook alongside Alice’s name after writing in an emotional tribute: ‘Princess Alice. In this moment of great pain my soul hurts, my body hurts, my mind hurts. I have a lump in my throat.
‘You were just an innocent child, a happy smiley girl with a bright life ahead of you which a despicable human being took away from you, without pity, for no reason.’
Firefighters from Merseyside joined members of the public in paying tribute to those killed and injured in the stabbings
Forensic officers were seen at the scene in Southport on Tuesday as investigations begin
Floral tributes pile up by the side of the road as locals flock to share their sympathy after the tragedy
Floral tributes near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, where two children died and nine were injured in a ‘ferocious’ knife attack
Liliana Soares wrote: ‘What a huge tragedy. My pretty and innocent angel. Such tremendous pain. My sincerest condolences Carina to the whole family.’
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Another family friend, Henrique Drummond, wrote on social media in a direct message to Alice’s parents: ‘David Aguiar, Alexandra Aguiar. Life is so cruel that an animal takes the life of children, especially our Alice. Lots of strength in these extremely difficult moments.’
Father John Heneghan, who led Alice Aguir’s first communion service, described her as a ‘beautiful girl from a lovely family’ – adding that they had only been to mass on Sunday morning, 24 hours before the tragedy.
Describing Alice at her First Communion, Fr Heneghan, parish priest at St Patrick’s for eight years, said he remembered ‘little Alice’ having the most beautiful smile, a radiant smile, if you’d say the epitome of happiness that day, she was it.’
‘We can’t make sense of it,’ he added.
Portuguese Foreign Ministry sources confirmed today a Portuguese girl had died.
One said: ‘Portugal’s Consul General in Manchester is assisting the family, having spoken to her parents, and is continuing to offer them all the support they need.’
Police say they are not looking for anyone else and do not believe the incident is terrorism related.
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
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
She organised the dance, yoga and bracelet making workshop in Southport with Heidi Barlow, also 35, a fellow dance teacher, (pictured) who advertised the event as being for ‘Swifties’
The attack happened at a Taylor Swift-themed workshop on Hart Street in Southport. Police later swooped on a property in Banks, five miles away
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.’
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How day of unimaginable tragedy unfolded on the streets of Southport
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.
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.
The attack happened at a Taylor Swift themed yoga and dance workshop
Taylor Swift said she is ‘completely in shock’ after the ‘horror’ of the Southport knife attack
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Southport MP Patrick Hurley embrace as they pay tribute to those injured and killed in the horror attack
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.’