Southport stabbing kills three; Taylor Swift ‘in shock’ over news

Three children were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance school event in Southport, England and the pop superstar says she’s gutted by the news.

Here’s what we know:

What happened in Southport?

A Taylor Swift-themed event at a dance school was being held for children between the ages of 6-11 years old, when the incident took place, according to news reports, leaving three children — ages 6, 7, and 9 — dead and 5 other children and 2 adults are in critical condition.

Swift took to her Instagram to express the horror of the attack, saying that it was “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,” said Swift in her post. “These were just little kids at a dance class.”

In a statement to USA TODAY by Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, “It is understood that the children were attending a Taylor Swift event at a dance school when the offender, who was armed with a knife, walked into the premises and started to attack those inside.”

A 17-year old was arrested on suspicion of murder but the motive is not clear.

Where is Southport?

Southport is a seaside town on the Irish Sea Coast in North West England.

It is in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Meyerside and 17 miles north of Liverpool.