Third child dies following mass stabbing in U.K.

Tributes and shock in Southport after tragic stabbing spree at Taylor Swift-themed event leaves three children dead.

A third child died on July 30 and five others remained critically injured after a knife attack on a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in a quiet seaside community in northern England, police said.

The nine-year-old girl died in hospital early on July 30, Merseyside Police said, as the force confirmed that two victims who died in the “ferocious” stabbing spree on July 29 were also girls, aged six and seven.

Eight other children suffered stab wounds during the attack in Southport, near Liverpool, which has shocked the U.K. and beyond. Two adults were also in a critical condition after being injured.

A 17-year-old male suspect from a nearby village arrested shortly after the incident remained in custody, police added, as they warned against speculating about his identity or details of the investigation.

“This incident is not currently being treated as terror-related and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with it,” Merseyside Police said in its latest update.

Hours earlier, U.S. pop star Swift took to social media to say she was “completely in shock” over “the loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone”.

“These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families,” she added on Instagram.