"Shocked by the Horrific Incident"... Even the King Mourns
A horrific incident occurred at a children's dance class in the UK, where a stabbing spree resulted in 13 casualties.
On the 29th, 'Yonhap News' and other outlets reported that a stabbing incident took place around 11:50 a.m. in Southport, near Liverpool in northwest England, resulting in multiple casualties.
According to a local police press conference, the attacker’s knife assault injured 13 people, including children and adults. Among them, two children died, and six of the injured are in critical condition. Additionally, two other adults are reported to be in serious condition.
The police arrested a 17-year-old male on charges of murder and attempted murder. The suspect’s identity, including his name, has not yet been disclosed. Investigations revealed that the suspect lived in a village about 8 km away from the crime scene.
According to foreign media such as the AP News, the incident occurred during a yoga and dance class for children aged 6 to 11, held to mark the school summer vacation. The police described the situation, saying, "The suspect walked into the venue carrying a knife and attacked the people inside," adding, "The injured adults seemed to have tried to protect the children." A witness told the media, "I saw at least seven children with injuries to various parts of their bodies."
The motive of the suspect remains unclear, but the police suspect it was not a terrorist attack.
Meanwhile, both the British Prime Minister and the monarch expressed condolences regarding the incident. King Charles III and Queen Camilla issued a statement saying, "We are deeply shocked by this terrible news. We send our heartfelt condolences, prayers, and sympathy to the families of those tragically lost and all the victims."
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said, "This is horrific, and the whole country is in shock," adding, "It is hard to imagine the grief and pain the victims, their families, and loved ones are going through."
The worst case of child murder in the UK was a mass shooting in 1996. The perpetrator, Thomas Hamilton, aged 43 at the time, opened fire at a school in Dunblane, Scotland, killing 16 kindergarten children and one teacher. This incident shocked the entire UK and led to revisions in gun laws, effectively banning private gun ownership.
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