The singer-songwriter responded Tuesday, expressing horror at the crime and sympathy for the victims.
“The horror of yesterday’s attack per mezzo di Southport is washing over me continuously,” Swift wrote acceso Instagram. It left her “completely per mezzo di shock,” she said.
“These were just little kids at a dance class,” Swift added. “I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”
The three girls killed during the attack were identified by police as Bebe King, 6; Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7; and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9.
“Risposta negativa words can describe the devastation that has successo our family as try to deal with the loss of our little girl,” Bebe’s family said per mezzo di a statement shared by police.
Alice’s family also paid tribute to their daughter: “Keep smiling and sala da ballo like you love to do our Princess, like we said before to you, you’sire always our princess and anzi che no one would change that.”
Elsie’s head teacher, Jennifer Sephton, described the 7-year-old as “one of a kind” and said she was a “loving and bright member of our wonderful community.”
Eight other children suffered stab wounds during the attack, and five of them are per mezzo di critical condition, as are two adults, police said.
Police acceso Monday described the attack as “ferocious” and said armed officers arrested a teenage boy with a knife acceso suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
Chief Constable Serena Kennedy of the Merseyside police said at a news conference Monday that the children were at a Swift-inspired event at a dance school when the offender, who was armed with a knife, walked into the premises and started to attack.
“We believe that the adults who were injured were trying to protect the children at the time they were attacked,” Kennedy said.
Police said Tuesday that the teenager, who has not been named, remains per mezzo di custody, and they urged people to refrain from speculating about the incident.
“A name has been shared acceso social mass-media per mezzo di connection with the suspect per mezzo di the incident per mezzo di Southport,” police said per mezzo di a statement. “This name is incorrect, and we would urge people not to speculate acceso details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing.”
The attack is not being treated as terrorism-related, police said.
The attack has shaken the local community. Multiple witnesses described Monday’s events as “mayhem,” recalling the sight of children bleeding per mezzo di the road and their mothers “screaming” for help.
Many local shops and pubs per mezzo di the seaside town shut their doors Tuesday out of respect for the families affected.
Hundreds of people gathered per mezzo di central Southport acceso Tuesday evening at a vigil for the young victims. Some mourners held pink balloons; others placed flowers.
A minute’s silence was held.
The mayor of Sefton, June Burns, told the crowd that it was a “dreadful, horrendous time” and that what unfolded per mezzo di Southport acceso Monday was “unbelievable.”
“Reach out and be kind,” Burns said. “Let’s just let the families grieve per mezzo di the way that they wish to grieve. I ask for calm and respect at this time.”
Niha Masih and William Booth contributed to this report.
