A 17-year-old boy accused of murdering three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport has appeared in court.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons due to his age, is accused of three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a bladed article.
Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were fatally stabbed on Monday when a knifeman entered the dance class on Hart Street in Southport, Merseyside.
The boy is accused of using a kitchen knife to stab to death the three girls. The court heard that he attempted to murder eight other children and two adults, Leanne Lucas and John Hayes.
The defendant covered his face with a jumper while the charges were read to him at Liverpool magistrates court on Thursday morning.
He arrived at court at about 9am in a prison van with a large police escort of vans and cars.
He was remanded in custody and will appear at Liverpool crown court later on Thursday.
