Children were seen fleeing a knife attack which has left at least eight injured in what witnesses have described as "a scene from a horror movie".

Police were called to a “major incident” at a property in Hart Street, Southport, north of Liverpool, at around 11.50am on Monday (July 29).

Upon arrival at the scene, armed police arrested a man and seized a knife.

Witnesses have described the knife attack as like a scene from a horror movie.Witnesses have described the knife attack as like a scene from a horror movie. (Image: James Speakman/PA)

Eight patients treated for stab injuries after knife attack

One witness told the PA news agency that he called the police to an address behind The Hart Space studios, where a Taylor Swift-themed yoga class for children aged between six and 11 was taking place.

Another witness - Colin Parry, owner of Masters Vehicle Body Repairs - added he believed that six or seven “young girls” had been stabbed during the incident.

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) confirmed it had so far 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 declared a major incident and asked parents not to bring their children to the emergency department unless it was urgent.

Merseyside Police said: “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.”

Southport MP Patrick Hurley said he was “deeply concerned” by the reports.

NWAS said it had despatched 13 ambulances along with specialised resources of its Hazardous Area Response Team (Hart), an air ambulance and doctors.

It said: “We’re assessing the situation and working with emergency partners.”

Alder Hey Children’s Hospital added: “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.”

A large police cordon has been put up around the building on Hart Road with police officers guarding either end.

Officers and vehicles can be seen from a distance inside the cordon, including scenes-of-crime officers in white boiler suits.

Dozens of police cars, vans, fire engines and ambulances were also assembled a short distance away at a local school.

Witnesses recount stabbing that was "like a scene from a horror movie"

Mr Parry, who witnessed the incident said: “The mothers are coming here now and screaming.

“It is like a scene from a horror movie.”

He added: “It’s like something from America, not like sunny Southport.”

Bare Varathan, 35, who owns a corner shop in Hart Street, said he was called by a staff member who told him: “Boss, get to the shop!”

He said: “I saw seven to 10 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. (Mr Varathan indicated the neck, back and chest area)

“They were all aged about 10. 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.

“Somebody told me he had arrived in a taxi and had a knife.”

Armed police seized a man and a knife after being called out to a major incident in Southport near Liverpool.Armed police arrested a man and seized a knife after being called out to a major incident in Southport near Liverpool. (Image: James Speakman/PA)

One resident, who lives in 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.”

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Another local parent said: “My daughter was in it and she was traumatised.

“She ran away and she’s safe.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the incident was “horrendous and deeply shocking”, while Home Secretary Yvette Cooper added she was “deeply concerned”.