A heroic dance teacher who was seriously injured after a stabbing attack in Southport that killed three girls was hit in the arms, back and neck by knife wounds as she shielded the girls with her body, it was revealed today.
Leanne Lucas, who hosted the Taylor Swift-themed vacation club, underwent life-saving surgery and is now awake, her family said Wednesday.
Recounting Ms Lucas’s actions after the knife-wielding man entered the classroom through an open door and began attacking children, a relative described how she leaned over two young girls, shielding them with her own body, while being repeatedly punched from behind.
The 35-year-old had managed to get several people into a storage cupboard to protect them and then bravely intervened as the attacker advanced towards two young children. Times reports.
Her cousin Chris Rimmer, 41, said she sounded “devastated”.
Leanne Lucas, who hosted the Taylor Swift-themed vacation club, underwent life-saving surgery and is now awake, her family said Wednesday.
Six-year-old Bebe King was the youngest child killed at the Southport holiday club in Merseyside
Seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe also died in the attack and her grieving mother has since appealed for calm.
Nine-year-old Alice died in the early hours of Tuesday after a hooded man carrying a knife entered the Taylor Swift-themed holiday club and began stabbing children present.
Nine-year-old Alice Aguiar, six-year-old Bebe King and seven-year-old Elsie Stancombe were killed in their classroom when a hooded man with a knife burst in and began stabbing children present.
A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remains in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder while officers were granted additional time to question him.
Police say they are not looking for anyone else and the incident is not being treated as terrorism.
Five other children remain in a critical condition in hospital along with two adults, one of whom is believed to be Ms Lucas.
She and fellow teacher Heidi Barlow, who led the class, which also included yoga and friendship bracelet making, bravely tried to save as many children in their care as they could.
Ms Barlow, 35, is said to have locked herself in a bathroom with several children, saving their lives.
First responders who attended the scene told Ms Lucas’s family how she pushed two people into a warehouse, then “leaned over two little girls” and used her body as a shield to protect them.
“She raised her arms and her arms were all cut off,” Rimmer said.
He added that Ms Lucas’s bravery was all the more extraordinary because of her small stature: “She’s tiny and thin as a rake.”
Mr Rimmer said his cousin “just cares about other people” and “always thinks of others before herself”.
He told the newspaper that online rumours that Ms Lucas had died made the unbearable wait for news even more difficult.
And after attending the peaceful vigil to remember the three murdered girls, the landscaping company he works for is now helping with the cleanup operation.
Today, floral offerings, balloons and stuffed animals covered the street near the police cordon.
Officers and forensic experts have been at the scene of the attack for the past three days.
The attack occurred at a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance workshop.
At a vigil held in the city last night, supporters left candles, flowers and stuffed animals.
His bravery was also praised by his relatives, who are hoping for more good news.
“She’s so little, she wouldn’t have stood a chance against a man with a knife, but she just wanted to protect those kids,” said her aunt, Pauline Bennett, 64.
“I can’t imagine what he must have been thinking when he walked through the door.
“It all happened so fast, she did what she could. Her sister was by her side all night and her parents are with her now.
“We’re just hoping and praying that she’s okay. Leanne loves teaching children, it’s all she’s ever wanted to do.
“She loves children. It’s heartbreaking that someone would do something like that.”
A former school friend said: ‘As far as I know, she organised it – she used to be a primary school teacher at a local school.
‘She was actually very lovely. I only knew her from high school. She was pretty quiet, she was an elementary school teacher and she wanted to help people.
‘That’s why you get into this, to do everything you can and that’s what she’s done.’
A neighbour of her parents, John and Allison, said: “It’s absolutely horrible, they are a lovely family.”
“We’re all too upset to say anything right now.”
England flags were on display when riots broke out in Southport last night
Rioters wearing masks throw missiles at police officers in Southport
Hundreds of people, many of them masked, clashed with riot police for hours on Tuesday.
Merseyside Police Chief Serena Kennedy held a press conference on the riots this afternoon
She was seen helping to repair a wall that was destroyed by rioters, who used the bricks as missiles at officers.
This comes after Merseyside Police said four people have been arrested over last night’s disturbances which followed a moving vigil for the victims.
Up to 300 people are believed to have been involved, with cars and rubbish bins set on fire, rockets thrown at police and a mosque attacked.
Police officers believe most of those involved were not from Stockport and were supporters of the English Defence League.
An update issued this afternoon revealed that 54 officers were injured and 27 were taken to hospital.
This afternoon, Merseyside Police Chief Serena Kennedy said there were “around 70 people who left the vigil and headed towards the mosque.”
“Suddenly there were about 200 of them and then others joined that number.”
Riot police with shields and helmets hold back protesters after disorder breaks out
In stark contrast to the unrest on the streets, there was a sense of tranquility at the vigil site as night fell.
The riots came just an hour after thousands of people gathered for a vigil at Atkinson in Southport.
In a statement released shortly afterwards, Merseyside Police said a 31-year-old man from St Helens, a 31-year-old man from West Derby and a 39-year-old man from Southport were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.
A 32-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of affray and possession of a knife.
A spokesman said: ‘The attackers destroyed garden walls to use the bricks as missiles to attack officers and randomly set fire to cars belonging to members of the public.
The suspects also threw bricks at the local mosque, damaged a local convenience store and set fire to garbage containers.
‘Three police dogs were also injured. After being hit with bricks, police dog Zoe suffered a laceration to her leg, which has been stitched up and is now resting, and police officer Ike is recovering after suffering a cut to his mouth and swelling to his front leg.
‘PD Quga suffered burns on his hind leg. A fourth dog, PD Repo, was uninjured after his handler kicked the gasoline.’