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He was held 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 Chief Constable Serena Kennedy
from Merseyside Police.
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.
Merseyside 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.
Police said armed police had arrested the suspect and seized a
knife after being called around 11:50 a.m. (1050 GMT) to an
address in Southport, north of Liverpool.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles both expressed
their shock at the attack and sent their condolences to those
affected.
"The events today are just truly awful, and I know the whole
country is deeply shocked at what they've seen and what they've
heard," Starmer told broadcasters.
King Charles said that it was a "truly appalling attack."
"My wife and I have been profoundly shocked to hear of the
utterly horrific incident in Southport today," Charles said in a
statement.
"We send our most heartfelt condolences, prayers and deepest
sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who have so
tragically lost their lives."
(Reporting by Kylie MacLellan, William James, Michael Holden and
Alistair Smout, Editing by Andrew Heavens, Chizu Nomiyama and
Rosalba O'Brien)
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