CHILLING CCTV footage has emerged showing a masked individual walking in the Banks area of Southport, hours before three children were killed in a mass stabbing.
The video, captured just after 11am on Monday morning, appears to show the person wearing a face mask and a green hoodie over their head.
The person is seen walking with their head down with the CCTV, obtained by ITV, time-stamped at 11.11am.
They are seen walking calmly past a street of residential houses on Hoole Lane and appear to glance into the window of a house before walking off camera.
Just moments later, three girls were killed after a horror attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in a nearby community centre.
The fully booked club for children, which was advertised as a dance and yoga workshop as well as bracelet-making, quickly became something “like a horror movie”, witnesses to the deadly stabbings have said.
Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar died in the horror.
Meanwhile, several others have been left fighting for their lives.
Eight other children suffered stab wounds and five are in a critical condition, alongside two adults who were critically injured, police said.
A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder following the incident at the dance studio in Hart Street.
It comes after a masked man, who also appeared to be wearing a green hoodie, was pictured outside a house later raided by cops in Southport.
Video from ITV shows an individual wearing a green hoodie and a face mask walking back and forth outside the front door.
The doorbell footage then shows several police cars and a group of officers, including some who are armed, appearing at the same house.
Armed cops had earlier scrambled to a community centre called Hart Space in Southport after reports of a knife attack at 11.47am on Monday.
Following the attack, teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, is understood to be fighting for her life in hospital after “bravely trying to protect” kids at the Hart Space Studios.
Her colleague Heidi, also 35, escaped uninjured after heroically locking some of the children inside a toilet to keep them safe.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Hayes, 63, ran into the dance studio and tried to fend off the attacker moments after hearing screams from his nearby office and was stabbed in the leg.
Merseyside Police said the motive is currently unclear and said the shocking scenes were not suspected to be terror-related.
Riots flared outside a mosque yesterday following the deaths of the three youngsters.
Violence broke out amid claims the police were not telling the truth about the suspect’s background and his motives, with rumours swirling on social media.
Police have made four arrests so far after 53 officers and three police dogs were injured in the clashes.
These included three officers who were taken to hospital with injuries including fractures, lacerations, a suspected broken nose and concussion.
But the community pulled together today to clean up the streets of Southport after a night of chaos.
Locals have rallied together to rebuild a mosque wall destroyed in the riots.
This morning residents flocked to the scene to show their support bringing cups of tea, toast and water.
Workmen set about repairing a damaged wall while a 19-year-old waitress swept up remnants of the riot as her father-in-law blew away the brick dust.
Monday, July 29
10am
Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance workshop begins at The Hart Space in Hart Street
11.47am
Police called to reports of a stabbing, and a major incident is declared
5.25pm
Police confirm 17-year-old male was arrested – and later clarify he was detained on suspicion of murder and attempted murder
7.18pm
Police confirm two young children have died
Tuesday, July 30
8.30am
Police confirm suspect continues to be questioned
10.30am
Taylor Swift posts tribute on Instagram
Midday
Police confirm a third girl has died – also say ages of first two deaths were six and seven
A vicar said: “Last night wasn’t what Southport is about – we are a town of love and this is how we show it.”
Among those who suffered during the riot last night were a shopkeeper who lost £10,000 of stuff when it was looted by rioters, despite white members of the local community trying to protect it.
The show of solidarity also saw a call from the mum of Elsie Stancombe – one of three victims so far from the attack – make an appeal for the violence to stop.
In a message widely shared online, Jenni Stancombe said: “This is the only thing that I will write, but please stop the violence in Southport tonight.
“The police have been nothing but heroic these last 24 hours and they and we don’t need this.”
However, Serena Kennedy, Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, speaking from Southport on Wednesday said officers were prepared for “events” to take place tonight and this weekend.
A separate peaceful vigil was held earlier on Tuesday evening to remember Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.
