The singer-songwriter responded on Tuesday, expressing his horror at the crime and his sympathy for the victim.
“The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport continues to haunt me,” Swift wrote on Instagram, saying she was “completely shocked.”
“They were just little kids who went to dance class,” Swift added. “I have no idea how to express my condolences to the families.”
Police identified the three girls killed during the attack as 6-year-old Bebe King, 7-year-old Elsie Dot Stancomb and 9-year-old Alice DaSilva Aguiar.
“Words cannot express the grief that has hit our family at the loss of our daughter,” Bebe’s family said. Said In a statement released by police.
Alice’s family also paid tribute to their daughter, saying, “Keep smiling and dancing like the princess you are. As we told you before, you will always be our princess and no one can change that.”
Elsie’s head teacher, Jennifer Sefton, Explained He called the 7-year-old girl “one of a kind” and said she was “a loving and intelligent member of our amazing community.”
Eight other children suffered stab wounds during the attack, including five in serious condition and two adults, police said.
Police on Monday described the attack as “violent” and said armed officers A teenage boy was arrested He was stabbed with a knife on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
Merseyside Police Commissioner Serena Kennedy said at a press conference on Monday that children had been attending a Swift-inspired event at a dance school when a knife-wielding assailant entered the premises and began his attack.
“We believe the injured adults were trying to protect their children at the time they were attacked,” Kennedy said.
Police said Tuesday that the boy, whose name has not been released, remains in custody and urged people to refrain from speculating about the incident.
“A name has been shared on social media in connection with the suspect in the Southport incident,” police said in a statement. “This name is incorrect and we ask that people not speculate on details of the incident as the investigation is ongoing.”
Police said the attack is not being considered terrorism-related.
The attack shocked the local community. Explained He called Monday’s events “panic chaos” and recalled images of children bleeding in the road and mothers “screaming” for help.
Many local shops and pubs in the seaside town closed on Tuesday out of consideration for affected families.
Hundreds of people gathered in Southport town centre on Tuesday night to pay tribute to the young people who were killed. Some mourners carried pink balloons while others left flowers.
A minute’s silence was observed.
Mayor of Sefton, June Barnes, said: told the crowd He said it was a “horrific, terrifying time” and that what happened in Southport on Monday was “unbelievable”.
“Please reach out and be kind,” Burns said. “Let the family grieve as they wish. We ask for calm and respect at this time.”
Niha Masih and William Booth contributed to this report.
