Armed police have been called to a street following reports of a stabbing in Merseyside.
Emergency services were called to Hart Street in Southport at around 12pm earlier today. North West Ambulance Service has confirmed eight patients with stab injuries have been treated at the scene in Southport so far and taken to hospitals including Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
Merseyside Police has confirmed that there are a "number of reported casualties."
Officers confirmed a 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection to the stabbings and a knife had been seized. Merseyside Police have also confirmed the incident is not being treated as terror-related.
Emergency services at the scene in Southport
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Police at the scene in Southport
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Graphic showing the location of the stabbings
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Police at the scene in Southport
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A Merseyside Police statement said: "We can confirm that emergency services are in Southport following a major incident this morning, Monday July 29. At around 11.50am, we were called to a property on Hart Street to reports of a stabbing.
"There are a number of reported casualties and more details will be confirmed when possible. Armed police have detained a male and seized a knife. He has been taken to a police station.
"Please avoid the area while we deal with this incident. There is no wider threat to the public."
A staff member at the Bridge Cafe on Hart Street told Liverpool Echo that the entirety of the street is behind a police cordon. They said: "Police haven’t spoken to us, but we heard that nobody is to go inside that building. Police are around 200m down the road from us. They’ve closed the entire road now."
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Police at the scene in Southport
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Eye-witness Bare Varathan, 35, who owns a corner shop on Hart Street, said he was called by a staff member who told him, “Boss, get to the shop!”
He said: "I saw seven to ten kids outside the nursery. They were injured, bleeding. They were in the road, running from the nursery. They had been stabbed, here, here, here, everywhere [indicating to the neck, back and chest area].
"They were all aged about ten. One of them was really seriously injured. I hope they will be OK.
"Only two police jeeps and ambulances arrived, then armed police came and took him out of the nursery."
North West Ambulance Service at the scene
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Eyewitnesses living in Maghull, Ainsdale and the surrounding areas have also described seeing and hearing sirens and a police helicopter.
Colin Parry, owner of Masters Vehicle Body Repairs on Hart Street, said he believed six or seven "young girls" had been stabbed adding it was like a "scene in a horror movie".
He said: "The mothers are coming here now and screaming. It is like a scene from a horror movie. Police have got him. It’s like something from America, not like sunny Southport."
Jack Mitchell, who works on Hart Street, told LBC he believed the building where the attack took place was a daycare centre. He said: "It's just a few houses up the road, I think it is a daycare but it's just on a residential street."
The local told LBC his colleague had seen "kids being carried out of one of the houses".
A statement from North West Ambulance Service on social media said: "We're attending a major incident on Hart Street, Southport following reports of multiple stabbings in which we have dispatched multiple resources. We're assessing the situation and working with emergency partners."
Merseyside's Police & Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: "Like everyone, I am deeply shocked and concerned about the major incident in Southport this morning. An arrest has been made and there is no wider risk to the public. I would urge people to be careful about what they share online and not to speculate about this incident."
In a statement, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital said: "We can confirm that the trust has declared a major incident. The trust is working with other emergency services to respond to this incident and our emergency department is currently extremely busy.
"We ask parents to only bring their children to the emergency department if it is urgent. All other appointments and services are running as normal."
Alder Hey Hospital
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Southport MP Patrick Hurley said he was “deeply concerned” by the reports coming from Merseyside Police.
In a statement on social media, the Labour MP said: “I am deeply concerned by the reports coming from Merseyside Police about a major incident on Hart Street in Southport today. I am hoping for the best possible outcomes to the casualties affected.
"My thoughts go out to all those affected, their loved ones and to the entire community. The police have confirmed that an individual involved in the attack has now been detained. I am repeating the advice of the police to avoid the area whilst the police and ambulance teams support this incident."
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "I am deeply concerned at the very serious incident in Southport. All my thoughts are with the families & loved ones of those affected. I have spoken to the Merseyside Police & Crime Commissioner to convey full support to the police & thanks to the emergency services responding."
Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service are using Meols Cop High School as a base following the stabbing nearby, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Emergency services at the scene in Southport
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Forensic investigation working at the scene in Southport
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Steve Rotheram, the mayor for the Liverpool City region, said: "Like you, I'm deeply concerned to hear about the incident in Southport this morning.
"I have been in contact with the police and am being kept updated on the situation. Please wait for official updates. Don't spread unconfirmed speculation and false information."
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on social media: "Horrendous and deeply shocking news emerging from Southport.
"My thoughts are with all those affected. I would like to thank the police and emergency services for their swift response. I am being kept updated as the situation develops."
Police at the scene in Hart Street
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Colin Parry, owner of Masters Vehicle Body Repairs on Hart Street, said he called police to an address in Hart Street behind which is The Hart Space studios.
One of the events listed at The Hart Space at the time of the stabbings was a Taylor Swift-themed yoga class for children in school years two to six, aged between six and 11.
A man working on a nearby house told Liverpool Echo: "I heard the kids playing and then I heard swearing and shouting. I came outside to see what was happening - I thought it was a fight.
"I’ve heard two different screams and mothers crying. These things will live with you forever."
Emergency services in Hart Street, Southport
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One resident, who lives on Hart Street but did not want to be named, said he was at home about midday when a woman pulled up outside in her car, screaming.
He said: "She was screaming ‘my daughter’s been stabbed’. The woman was in hysterics. Then two police cars rushed up the street the other way.
"It was a mum with her 10-year-old daughter who had been stabbed. I helped to get her back up to where the police cars and ambulances were.
"She didn’t look great but my focus was on getting her back up the street to get help. When I got back up the street there were a couple of kids on the floor being seen to by paramedics and, as I came back, more police cars were going down and more ambulances gradually started to arrive."
In the aftermath of the incident, flight restrictions on drones and helicopters have been imposed in Southport to allow emergency services to respond to the stabbing.
A temporary airspace restriction - known as an Emergency Restriction of Flying (ERF) - has been in place since 1.41pm, meaning it will be an offence for any aircraft to fly below 2,000ft above sea level in a designated area without the explicit permission of Merseyside Police.
Police have said drone and aircraft users flying inside the Restricted Airspace that have not been granted permission will be guilty of committing an offence - and could be prosecuted.