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The singer-songwriter responded Tuesday, expressing horror at the crime and sympathy for the victims.
“The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously,” Swift wrote on Instagram. It left her “completely in shock,” she said.
“These were just little kids at a dance class,” Swift added. “I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”
In the hours after a vigil in memory of those slain, protesters clashed with police officers near a local mosque. A police van was set alight, and riot police responded with dogs and tear gas. Paramedics treated 39 police officers for injuries; 27 were taken to hospital, while 12 were treated at the scene.
In a statement, Merseyside police said that the protesters had thrown items at the mosque. Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss said the action was “sickening” and had been driven by “speculation and hypothesis” about the attack.
“The actions in Southport tonight will involve many people who do not live in the Merseyside area or care about the people of Merseyside,” Goss said.
Police have offered few details of the suspect in Monday’s attack, describing him as a 17-year-old born in Britain. Officers arrested the boy, who they said was carrying a knife, on Monday on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. Police said the attack was not terrorism-related.
The three girls killed during the attack were identified by police as Bebe King, 6; Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7; and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9.
“No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as try to deal with the loss of our little girl,” Bebe’s family said in a statement shared by police.
Alice’s family also paid tribute to their daughter: “Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our Princess, like we said before to you, you’re always our princess and no one would change that.”
Elsie’s head teacher, Jennifer Sephton, described the 7-year-old as “one of a kind” and said she was a “loving and bright member of our wonderful community.”
Eight other children suffered stab wounds during the attack, and five of them are in critical condition, as are two adults, police said.
Chief Constable Serena Kennedy of the Merseyside police said at a news conference Monday that the children were at a Swift-inspired event at a dance school when the offender, who was armed with a knife, walked into the premises and started to attack.
“We believe that the adults who were injured were trying to protect the children at the time they were attacked,” Kennedy said.
Police said Tuesday that the teenager, who has not been named, remains in custody, and they urged people to refrain from speculating about the incident.
“A name has been shared on social media in connection with the suspect in the incident in Southport,” police said in a statement. “This name is incorrect, and we would urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing.”
The attack has shaken the local community. Multiple witnesses described Monday’s events as “mayhem,” recalling the sight of children bleeding in the road and their mothers “screaming” for help.
Many local shops and pubs in the seaside town shut their doors Tuesday out of respect for the families affected.
Hundreds of people gathered in central Southport on Tuesday evening at a vigil for the young victims. Some mourners held pink balloons; others placed flowers.
A minute’s silence was held.
The mayor of Sefton, June Burns, told the crowd that it was a “dreadful, horrendous time” and that what unfolded in Southport on Monday was “unbelievable.”
“Reach out and be kind,” Burns said. “Let’s just let the families grieve in the way that they wish to grieve. I ask for calm and respect at this time.”
Rachel Pannett in Wellington, New Zealand and Niha Masih and William Booth in London contributed to this report.
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