A nine-year-old girl has become the third child to die following the stabbing in Southport, Merseyside Police said.

Police today revealed the details of all three young girls killed following the attack on a Taylor Swift dance class at a workshop in Hart Street, Southport, yesterday morning.

The children who died yesterday were girls aged six and seven years old.

Merseyside Police said the girl, 9, died in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remains in custody charged with murder and attempted murder following the incident at the Hart Street dance studio.

A police statement said: “Sadly we can confirm that a third child has died as a result of injuries sustained in a knife attack in Southport yesterday morning, Monday 29 July.

“The nine-year-old girl died in hospital in the early hours of the morning, Tuesday July 30. We can confirm that the children who died yesterday were girls aged six and seven.

“Eight other children suffered stab wounds during the attack, and five of them are in a critical condition.

“Two adults are also in a critical condition after being injured during the incident.

“Our specialist family liaisons are providing support to families at this terrible time.

“Yesterday officers arrested a 17-year-old male from Banks and he remains in police custody.”

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