A 17-year-old boy from Lancashire has been charged with the murders of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport.

Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, were fatally stabbed on Monday when a knifeman entered the dance class on Hart Street in Southport, Merseyside.

Eight other children suffered knife wounds – with five of them in a critical condition – while two adults were also critically hurt.

Three girls – Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Dasilva Aguiar – were fatally stabbed | Merseyside Police/PA Wire

The boy charged with their murders, who was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents, is from the village of Banks, Lancashire - just outside Southport.

The 17-year-old cannot be named for legal reasons as he’s under 18. He has been remanded in custody to appear at Liverpool Magistrates Court today.

Police officers and a police van block the vehicle entrance at Liverpool Magistrates' Court where a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is appearing charged with three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article, following a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport on Monday. Credit: Danny Lawson/PA Wire | Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Chief Constable of Merseyside Police Serena Kennedy announced the charges in a press conference just after midnight.

She said: “A 17-year old-boy from Banks has been charged with the murders of Bebe, Elsie Dot and Alice, 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article following the tragic incident in Southport on Monday. July 29.

“Whilst these charges are a significant milestone within this investigation, this remains very much a live investigation and we continue to work with our partners from Lancashire Police and counter-terrorism police in the North West.”

Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Ursula Doyle and Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, during a press conference at Merseyside Police HQ in Liverpool, as they announce that a 17-year-old boy has been charged with the murders of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport. Photo credit: Eleanor Barlow/PA Wire | Eleanor Barlow/PA Wire

Violent disorder has broken out across the country following the attack, with more than 100 people arrested at a protest in Whitehall on Wednesday night.

Sarah Hammond, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: “We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.

“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

Lancashire boy, 17, charged with murdering three young girls in Southport stabbing attack