A heroic dance teacher took knife slashes to her back, arms and neck as she bravely put herself between her pupils and an attacker. Leanne Lucas, who had organised and was running the Taylor Swift-inspired class in Southport, Merseyside, on Monday, July 29, has been fighting for her life in hospital.
Three children died after a knife-wielding man entered a premises in Hart Street, with a number of others also in critical conditions days on. Police arrested a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and have been granted more time to quiz the suspect.
The teenager has not been named for legal reasons, but remains in custody. Three girls; Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, died from their injuries.
The Times reported that Leanne’s family revealed she had put two people into a storage room and bent over two other children to protect them, taking the brunt of the stabbings. She’s now awake after receiving life-saving surgery.
The news outlet spoke to Leanne’s cousin, Chris Rimmer, who confirmed her current condition but said she’s “unable to remember anything.”
It’s claimed she has not yet been told the details of the casualties and that she sounded “broken” over the phone. Her family, the Times says, have been piecing together what happened – with accounts from first responders revealing the crucial details over how the dance teacher sustained her injuries.
One harrowing detail uncovers how the 35-year-old put her arms out to shield others, and has cuts on her arms as a result. He added that her concern has been over the other casualties rather than herself, despite being in hospital and potentially still needing more treatment.
Her cousin confirmed he had gone to the vigil held in memory of those who died and those who are still fighting for their lives – but just hours later extreme violence broke out.
Merseyside Police said 50 officers were hurt in the ordeal, which was sparked by an anti-Muslim mob who targeted a Mosque and began a trail of destruction after the stabbings.
It has, this afternoon, renewed its appeal for footage and information after the brutal disorder, which has left many businesses, residents and workers picking up the pieces this morning.
A spokesman for the force said: “Of the 53 injured, 49 were Merseyside Police officers and four were Lancashire Police officers. Eight sustained serious injuries including fractures, lacerations, a suspected broken nose and concussion and were treated in hospital.
“Other officers suffered varying degrees of injury including head injuries, serious facial injuries and one was knocked unconscious.”
