Merseyside is in shock after two children were murdered and ninemore were injured at a Taylor Swift dance party in the town of Southport.

A hooded man wielding a knife stormed through the dance workshop on Monday where children were dancing along to Taylor Swift songs, just weeks after her Eras Tour visit to Anfield which was incredibly well received by the city of Liverpool and Taylor herself.

Southport is a town in the north of Merseyside, on the border with Lancashire. The Daily Mail reported that the unidentified man entered The Hart Space where the workshop was taking place shortly after noon local time.

At least 25 children were taking part in the event when the attack unfolded, the Mail said.

“It is like a scene from a horror movie,” local merchant Colin Parry told the BBC. “They are coming here now and screaming. It’s like something from America, not like sunny Southport.”

The attacker was quickly taken into custody and the knife was seized and taken away. The wounded girls were rushed to three local children’s hospitals, where they were being treated after the attack.

According to reports he pulled up to the scene in a taxi.