A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder and attempted murder following a horrific mass stabbing at a community centre in Southport, north of Liverpool. The teenager, who hails from the nearby village of Banks in Lancashire but was born in Cardiff, Wales, was arrested on Monday with a knife seized by armed police.
The victims, six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, tragically lost their lives during a “Taylor Swift Yoga and Dance Workshop” aimed at primary school children aged seven to eleven at The Hart Space community centre.
The suspect has been charged with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder and is scheduled to appear at Liverpool City Magistrates Court this morning.
Violent Protests Erupt in Response
In the wake of the attack, violent protests have erupted in London and Hartlepool. On Wednesday evening, flares were thrown towards the gates of Downing Street as hundreds of demonstrators gathered on Whitehall. The crowd, which included individuals shouting the names of far-right activists and nationalist slogans, clashed with police, who were seen donning riot gear.
The Metropolitan Police reported more than 100 arrests for various offences, including violent disorder, assault on an emergency worker, and breach of protest conditions. Several officers sustained minor injuries during the confrontation. Protesters were eventually penned in around the Cenotaph war memorial by officers attempting to control the disorder.
Hartlepool Protests
Similarly, in Hartlepool, four people were arrested after protests believed to be connected to the Southport knife attack. Demonstrators threw missiles, glass bottles, and eggs at officers, resulting in minor injuries to several police personnel.
Southport Clashes
The unrest follows violent scenes in Southport on Tuesday, where 53 police officers were injured outside a mosque. These clashes were fueled by false claims circulated online that the suspect in the stabbing attack was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat.
Authorities are urging the public to remain calm and refrain from spreading misinformation that can incite further violence. The investigation into the tragic incident and subsequent unrest continues, with a focus on maintaining public order and safety.
