A knife attack in northern England yesterday wounded at least eight people, reportedly including children, emergency services said.
Police said armed officers detained a man and seized a knife after being called to a property in Southport, near Liverpool in northwest England.
"There are a number of reported casualties," police said in a statement.
The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said it had "treated eight patients with stab injuries who have been taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Aintree University Hospital and Southport and Formby hospital."
Alder Hey Children's Hospital said: "We can confirm that the trust has declared a major incident."
Local business owner Colin Parry, one of the people who called police, told the domestic Press Association news agency that he believed several "young girls" had been stabbed.
Bare Varathan, who owns a local shop, told PA he saw "seven to 10 kids" who were "injured, bleeding", adding that he saw they had been stabbed.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident "horrendous and deeply shocking," adding on X, formerly called Twitter, that "my thoughts are with all those affected".
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she was “deeply concerned” about the “very serious incident” in Southport.
The area where the incident took place is located in a quiet, leafy neighbourhood of residential streets.
Some residents who were allowed to come out from the police cordon sealing it off looked visibly shocked, according to a journalist at the scene.
One man who lives in an adjoining street and did not wish to be named said: "It's not what you expect to see in Southport."
In a statement, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital confirmed they were dealing with a major incident, and warned parents to avoid bringing their children to the emergency department unless it was urgent.
