Taylor Swift meets girls injured in Southport stabbing before Wembley show

Taylor Swift met some of the children injured in the Southport stabbings while she was in London for her Wembley Stadium show last weekend. Several children were attacked during a Taylor Swift-themed dance party at the Hart Space pregnancy and community centre on Hart Street in Southport on July 29.

Six year-old Bebe King, seven year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar died from their injuries. Alder Hey have confirmed the remaining children the hospital were caring for have been discharged.

The American singer performed across the country including at Anfield earlier this year as part of the Eras Tour and returned to the UK again for the Eras World Tour shows, The Mirror reports.

Taylor met with some of the young survivors and their families before the concert on Saturday, August 17. It is believed she reached out to the victims' families in private before arriving in London ahead of five shows at Wembley Stadium as part of her ongoing Eras Tour.

It's believed 25 children were taking part in the dance event in Southport last month when the horror unfolded. Writing on social media the day after the horrific attack, the American singer paid tribute to those caught up in the mindless violence.

She said: "The horror of yesterday's attack in Southport is washing over me continuously and I'm just completely in shock. The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families, and first responders. These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families."

It has been confirmed that for all of Taylor's London dates there will be stewards checking in and around the area to make sure that only those with tickets attend. It comes after security was increased at Wembley Stadium amid a foiled terror plot in Vienna, Austria.

Non-ticket holders will be asked to move on if they gather anywhere around the Olympic Steps at the front of the stadium or any entrances. Other rules given to concertgoers include only an A4 sized bag, no face coverings unless for religious or medical reasons, whilst chains and studded jewellery as well as hard plastic is banned from being taken into the stadium.

In the wake of the horrific events in Southport, Taylor Swift fans raised more than £385,000 for Alder Hey. Cristina Jones and Holly Goldring set up the JustGiving page when they heard about the devastating news.

Alder Hey has explained the money will go towards immediate support, Southport as a whole and funeral costs as required. It praised the donations as a ‘beacon of hope’.