- Taylor Swift has released a statement after three children were killed during an attack at a Swift-themed dance class
- The ‘ferocious’ knife-attack – for which police have arrested a 17-year-old boy – has also left a further eight children with severe and critical injuries
- Over $102,000 has been raised by Swifties for victims of the attack – and many have urged the police to redefine the term ‘terror-related’
Taylor Swift released a statement today (July 30), after three children were murdered at a dance and yoga class dedicated to her songs in the UK.
A further eight children – five of whom are in a critical condition – suffered stab wounds, after the assailant entered the dance school premises in Southport, North West England, and began what police have described as a “ferocious” knife attack.
Two girls, aged six and seven, were pronounced dead on Monday, and a third victim died the following day. She has been named as nine-year-old Alice Aguiar.
Yoga instructor Leanne Lucas, 35 – who is said to have got some of the children to safety through a fire escape – and another woman were also critically injured.
Police have arrested a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
In a message released to her Instagram page, Swift, 34, wrote, ‘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, and first responders.
‘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.’
Swifties begin fundraiser for Southport victims
Fans of the singer came together this week to raise money for victims of the attack.
Over £80,000 ($102,000) has so far been raised for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, who declared a critical incident in light of yesterday’s attack.
On the JustGiving page, fans and organizers Cristina Jones and Holly Goldring wrote, ‘We are working with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to help raise money for the families affected by the tragedy in Southport, and raising funeral funds for the two young Swifties who have tragically passed.
‘Every donation through this link goes directly to the verified charity below, which will in turn help make a difference to those impacted in a time of great sadness. Forever and always, thank you.’
Jones later added, “What compelled us was we were thinking about the fact that these families are going through just unimaginable hell right now.
“It feels nice we’ve done something positive. I firmly believe there’s nothing we can do to make the families feel better because of what they’re going through right now, but if we’ve taken some sort of burden from them, financial or whatever, it’s nice to know that we’ve done what we can do.”
Swifties offer their condolences to the victims
On social media, fans offered their condolences.
“Leaving your child at a Taylor Swift dance class during the summer holidays only for your entire world to end in the most cruel and horrific way. I can not imagine what those parents are going through,” wrote one. Another added, “Pretty sure that when it’s appropriate, and the time is right, Taylor will be doing something to bring a little light into the lives of these poor children and families.”
After police described the incident as “not terror-related”, others disagreed.
“A 17 year old boy targets a Taylor Swift themed party for young kids and you want us to believe we don’t have a terrifying problem with femicide and misogyny in this country. The radicalisation of young men online is not a new concept. And yet at every level we fail to stop it,” said one. Another added, “If you’re going into a Taylor Swift themed children’s dance and yoga event with a knife, it’s a very specific demographic you’re targeting. We really need to think about how we define ‘terror’ in this country.”
Someone else continued, “A Taylor Swift dance class. An Ariana Grande concert. These are attacks on GIRLS. Failing to mention the sex of most of the victims obscures the fact that this is MVAWG [male violence against women and girls], not random violence. #MVAWG”
A fourth noted, “This is what your Taylor Swift hate tweets and ‘jokes’ about swifties deserving to die translates to in the real world. People are so blinded by their hatred that they forget about the real life implications of what this echo chamber reiterates. These were innocent kids.”
