A 17-year-old has been charged with murder and attempted murder over a knife attack at a dance class in Southport.

The male teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, has been charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder.

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar died after the attack at the Taylor Swift-themed class in the Merseyside town on Monday.

Eight other children and two adults who were at the event in the Hart Space community centre were also injured, with several still in a critical condition.

The accused will appear at Liverpool City Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning.

Sarah Hammond, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: “We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.

“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.

“Our thoughts remain with the families of all of those affected by these harrowing events.”

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