Third child dead after dance class stabbing

Three young girls who were stabbed to death at a dance class have been named while Taylor Swift has made an emotional statement.

Three young girls who were stabbed to death at a dance club holding a Taylor Swift inspired class in the UK have been named.

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar were confirmed as the victims of the knife rampage on Monday in Southport, just north of Liverpool in England’s north west.

The trio had been at a Swift-themed “yoga and dance” holiday club when the horror unfolded.

Eight other children suffered stab wounds and five were in fighting for their life, alongside two adults who were critically injured, police said.

Taylor Swift has said she was “completely in shock” at the killings. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has visited the scene of the shocking attack.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer arrives with a floral tribute to the child victims of a knife attack on July 30, 2024 in Southport, England. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder following the incident at the dance studio

Tributes poured in for young Alice Aguiar earlier today after she tragically succumbed to her injuries in the early hours of Tuesday morning, UK time.

Her heartbroken loved ones this afternoon said she would “always be their princess,” reported The Sun.

An emotional tribute read: “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.”

Nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar died in the attack.

Bebe King’s family also opened up about their devastation.

“No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as we try to deal with the loss of our little girl Bebe.”

Heartbroken friends and family paid tribute to Alice earlier today, saying she was killed by a “despicable human being”.

Alice’s mum Alexandra Aguiar is understood to hail originally from Caracas in Venezuela and her dad David Aguiar is from Madeira, a Portuguese island.

Relative Carina Aguiar said 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.”

Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, perished.

Bebe King was also a victim.

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.”

Jose Cesario, the Secretary of State for the Portuguese Communities, told a Portuguese TV station today: “Unfortunately a child who is the daughter of Portuguese parents originally from Madeira has died.

“She was one of the victims of this awful crime. The family lives in Southport.

“The parents are in a state of shock. We are going to continue to give them the support they need, we are in direct contact with an aunt of the young girl.

“The priority is to give them all the moral support they need and afterwards things depend on the family and where they want to hold the funeral.”

Police officers and forensic personnel put up a fence on Hart Street in Southport, northwest England, on July 29, 2024, following a knife attack. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)

Taylor Swift responds

The singing superstar posted din social media that show was “completely in shock” after the “horror” of the knife attack at a class inspired by her music.

“The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I’m just completely in shock. “The loss of life and innocence and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families, the first response,” she wrote.

“These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies.

“I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”

Taylor Swift's tribute to the Southport victims. Credit: Instagram

‘Like a horror movie’

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.

Teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, is understood to be fighting for her life in hospital after “bravely trying to protect” kids at the Hart Space Studios.

Her colleague Heidi, also 35, escaped uninjured after heroically locking some of the children inside a toilet to keep them safe.

A floral tribute from Liverpool Football Club to the child victims of a knife attack on July 30, 2024 in Southport, England. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Jonathan Hayes, 63, ran into the dance studio and tried to fend off the attacker moments after hearing screams from his nearby office and was stabbed in the leg.

A video obtained by UK network ITV showed an individual wearing a green hoodie and face mask pacing back and forth outside the front door.

The doorbell footage then showed several police cars and a group of officers, including some who are armed, appearing at the same house.

A staff member at the Hart Space, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she heard the suspect was wearing a “black hood” when he reportedly stabbed multiple children.

Locals said the suspect had got out of a taxi minutes before noon before his launching his attack.

He accessed the Hart Space Studios because a door was left open amid sweltering heat.

Police have said that, although the motive for the attack is unclear, it is not believed to be terror-related.

With The Sun.

Originally published as Third child dead after dance class stabbing