Two boys were killed in a knife attack targeting a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in northern England on Monday.

London: Two children lost their lives and nine others were injured in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in northern England on Monday, CNN reported, citing police. According to Chief Constable Serena Kennedy of Merseyside Police, the incident took place in the Southport area and six children are in a critical condition. She also added that the two adults who were injured are also in critical condition.
According to the police, the assailant entered the premises with a knife and started attacking the children.
“We believe that the adults who were injured made valiant efforts to protect the children who were attacked,” Kennedy said at a news conference Monday evening.
Emergency services were called to a “major incident” in the city at 11:50am (local time). A 17-year-old boy has been arrested at the scene.
“The investigation is in its early stages and the motive behind the incident is still unclear. However, Counter Terrorism Police North West have offered their support,” Kennedy said.
Police earlier said that the incident was not considered to be terrorism-related.
Local business owner Colin Parry, one of the people who called police, said the incident in Southport was “like a scene from a horror movie,” CNN reported, citing PA Media.
Parry said he believed several young women were stabbed. “Moms are now coming here and shouting. It's like a scene out of a horror movie,” Parry said, adding, “The police have caught him.”
Alder Hey Children's Hospital Trust in Liverpool, about 20 miles from Southport, declared a “major incident,” CNN reported.
“The trust is working with other emergency services to respond to this incident and our emergency department is currently extremely busy,” the hospital said in a statement posted on its website. “We ask parents to bring their children to the emergency department,” it said.
Britain's King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla said they were shocked by the incident.
In a statement shared on the Royal Family's official social media channels on Monday, King Charles said: “My wife and I are deeply shocked to hear of the horrific events in Southport.
The couple sent their “deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have so tragically lost their lives” and to all those affected by the incident.
The Prime Minister of the UK, Keir Starr, also shared his thoughts on the developments and showed his shock through a video message broadcast. He said that the entire country was shocked by the incident in Southport.
“I know I speak for everyone across the country in expressing our thoughts and condolences to the victims, their families, their friends and the wider community. And the pain they're going through, the trauma they're going through is almost impossible to imagine,” Starmer said, paying tribute to the emergency services for their response to what he described as a “terrible incident”.