A police van has been set alight, with bottles and wheelie bins thrown at officers, in ongoing clashes in Southport
Officers say "items" were thrown towards a local mosque, in scenes they say are "sickening to see ... within a community that has been devastated by the tragic loss of three young lives"
Earlier, hundreds gathered for a vigil to remember three killed and seven injured at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on Monday
Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, were all killed in the attack. Five children and two adults are still in a critical condition
A 17-year-old male, arrested on suspicion of murder, remains in custody
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has just posted on social media, saying she is "deeply concerned" over the incident in Southport.
"All my thoughts are with the families & loved ones of those affected," she writes.
"I have spoken to the Merseyside Police & Crime Commissioner to convey full support to the police & thanks to the emergency services responding."
Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool says it has declared a major incident, as it urges parents to only bring their children to A&E "if it is urgent".
In a statement, the hospital trust says it's "working with other emergency services to respond to this incident" and its emergency department is "extremely busy".
All "other appointments and services are running as normal", it adds.
The North West Ambulance Service says paramedics have treated eight patients with stab injuries.
The victims have been taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Aintree University Hospital and Southport and Formby Hospital.
We're hearing from Merseyside police commissioner Emily Spurrell now, who says a man has been arrested following reports of a stabbing in Southport this morning.
"An arrest has been made and there is no wider risk to the public," she says in a post on X.
"I would urge people to be careful about what they share online and not to speculate about this incident. Official updates will follow shortly," she adds.
We've just received these pictures from Hart Street, Southport, where the stabbings were reported.
Image source, @ChauffeurWest / PA
Image source, @ChauffeurWest / PA
Aoife Walsh
Live editor
If you're just joining us, we're covering the latest developments from Southport, where armed police have detained a man following a "major incident" this morning.
The details of what happened are still emerging. So far, we've heard from Merseyside Police, who say a man has been detained and a knife has been seized. The force also says there's no risk to the wider public.
We've also received a statement from the North West Ambulance Service, which says its paramedics are responding to reports of "multiple stabbings".
We've got teams heading to the scene, so stay with us as we'll be bringing you the latest details as we get them. You can also watch our live coverage by pressing the "Watch live" button at the top of this page.
The North West Ambulance Service says its paramedics are responding to reports of "multiple stabbings" in Southport.
An NWAS statement on social media says: "We're attending a major incident on Hart Street, Southport following reports of multiple stabbings in which we have dispatched multiple resources.
"We're assessing the situation and working with emergency partners."
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More from the scene in Southport now.
A woman who lives minutes away from the incident on Hart Street tells the Liverpool Echo she heard sirens and a helicopter circling at around 12:20 BST.
"Then the messages started to go around the local WhatsApp groups, saying 'lock your windows, lock your doors', we were told a man was running around stabbing people," she adds.
"We are all absolutely terrified, panicking and sick with worry – everyone is trying to reach anyone they know in the area. I don't know how this can happen on a Monday lunchtime."
"We can confirm that emergency services are in Southport following a major incident this morning, Monday 29 July.
"At around 11.50am, we were called to a property on Hart Street to reports of a stabbing.
"There are a number of reported casualties and more details will be confirmed when possible.
"Armed police have detained a male and seized a knife. He has been taken to a police station.
"Please avoid the area while we deal with this incident. There is no wider threat to the public."
This is a breaking story – stay with us as our teams head to the scene. We'll bring you more details as we get them.
There have been reports of stabbings in Southport, with multiple victims.
Merseyside Police says that officers were called to a property on Hart Street at around 11:50 BST.
There are a “number of reported casualties”. But the statement does not offer more detail, which officers say will be “confirmed when possible”.
Armed police have detained a male who has been taken to a police station, as well as seizing a knife.
Police have called on people to avoid the area while they deal with the incident, adding that there is “no wider threat to the public”.