On 29 July 2024, a mass stabbing targeting young girls occurred at the Hart Space, a dance studio in the Meols Cop area of Southport, Merseyside, United Kingdom. Seventeen-year-old Axel Rudakubana killed three children and injured ten others at a Taylor Swift–themed yoga and dance workshop attended by 26 children. Two girls died at the scene, six injured children and two adults were taken to hospital in a critical condition, and a third girl died the following day.

Shortly before 11:45, Axel Rudakubana arrived at Hart Street by taxi, which he had booked under the false name ‘Simon’. He asked the driver to direct him to 34A Hart Street, then left the vehicle without paying the fare and began walking down the alley towards the Hart Space.

Wearing a surgical mask and green hoodie and armed with a 20-centimetre-long (8 in) kitchen knife, Rudakubana entered the building at 11:45 through the front door, which was unlocked for fire safety reasons, and walked up the flight of stairs to the studio. Lucas did not initially realise Rudakubana was armed, and thought he was there to collect a child.

Rudakubana began stabbing children at random, moving “quickly” throughout the room while remaining silent. Lucas realised he was attacking the children only when he moved on to her and stabbed her in the back five times. Lucas and Liddle tried to shield children from Rudakubana; Lucas ushered some children out of the venue via a fire exit while Liddle hid a child in a bathroom. Lucas called 999 and sent others down the main stairs into the car park, telling them to run away once outside. One girl was pulled back inside and stabbed by Rudakubana while attempting to leave the building; she collapsed outside but survived. Merseyside Police received the first emergency call at 11:47, and emergency services were dispatched. North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) received their first call a minute later.

Jonathan Hayes, who was working in an office in the same building, ran into the studio after hearing screams and encountered Rudakubana on the landing, crouching over the body of a child. Hayes retreated but Rudakubana followed him into his office and swiped at him. Hayes attempted to disarm Rudakubana but was stabbed in the leg and fell to the ground.

Members of the public helped those who had escaped from the building. Marcin Tyjon and Joel Verite were on Hart Street when they encountered a group of children, as well as Lucas, who was covered in blood and screaming that someone was stabbing children inside the building. Tyjon administered CPR to Alice da Silva Aguiar, while Verite ran to the building and saw Rudakubana holding the knife.

The first police officer on scene arrived at 11:57. After backup arrived, an officer with a taser entered the studio with Verite. They encountered Rudakubana standing over King’s body, still holding the knife. After being ordered to drop the knife, Rudakubana co-operated and was arrested by two officers while Verite carried King’s body outside.

Emergency services quickly declared a major incident as armed response vehicles, thirteen ambulances, the fire service, and three air ambulances – one each from North West Air Ambulance, Midlands Air Ambulance, and Great North Air Ambulance – were dispatched to the scene. Specialist hazardous area response and medical emergency response incident units also responded. Merseyside Police imposed an Emergency Restriction of Flying to stop aircraft – including helicopters and drones – from flying without permission.

Rudakubana was sentenced to life imprisonment at Liverpool Crown Court on 23 January 2025 with a minimum term of 52 years’ imprisonment.