AceBreakingNews – A 17-year-old has been charged with the murder of three girls at a dance class in Southport.
Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar died after a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed event in the Merseyside town on Monday.
The teenager, who appeared at Liverpool City Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, has also been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder. Eight other children and two adults who were at the event in the Hart Space centre were injured, with some still believed to be in a critical condition.
The defendant, who cannot be named because of his age, has also been charged with the possession of a bladed article has now been named after reporting restrictions were lifted in court
Merseyside Police announced the charges during a press conference just after midnight.
Ursula Doyle, deputy chief crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service 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.
“Our thoughts remain with the families of all of those affected by these harrowing events.”
Chief Constable of Merseyside Police Serena Kennedy said: “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.”
17-year-old charged with three counts of murder over Southport attack
The summer holiday dance class on Hart Street in Southport was being held for primary school children aged six to 10.
Police were called to reports of a stabbing there just before 11:50 BST on Monday.
When officers arrived, they found that multiple people, many of whom were children, had been subjected to a “ferocious attack” and had suffered serious injuries, Ms Kennedy said.
Police believe a person armed with a knife walked into the building and attacked those inside.
Two adults were critically injured “bravely” trying to protect the children from the attack, police said.
In a tribute issued through police, Bebe’s family said: “No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as we try to deal with the loss of our little girl Bebe.”
Meanwhile, the family of Alice said: “Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our Princess, like we said before to you, you’re always our princess and no one would change that. Love from Your Hero Daddy and Mummy.”
The attack has shocked the town of Southport
Separately, more than 100 people were arrested in a protest in central London on Wednesday night following the deaths in Southport, the Metropolitan Police said.
The Met said it made arrests for a range of offences including violent disorder, assault on an emergency worker, and breach of protest conditions on Wednesday evening.
It followed separate unrest in Southport on Tuesday, which came hours after a peaceful vigil was attended by thousands to remember the girls who died.
A large group of protesters attacked the front of a mosque, throwing bricks, bottles, fireworks and rocks, while police officers used riot shields to defend themselves as wheelie bins were hurled towards them.
A police vehicle was also set on fire.
Merseyside Police said more than 50 police officers were hurt in a “sustained and vicious attack”. The force said the violence was believed to have involved English Defence League supporters.
It added that those behind the violence had been fired up by social media posts which incorrectly suggested an Islamist link to Monday’s stabbing.
In a message widely shared on social media, Elsie’s mother Jenni Stancombe condemned the violence.
“This is the only thing that I will write, but please stop the violence in Southport tonight,” she wrote.
“The police have been nothing but heroic these last 24 hours and we don’t need this.”
Several officers were also injured in separate disorder in Hartlepool on Wednesday, Cleveland Police said, after violence broke out in the town.
Disorder was also reported in Manchester and Aldershot. No arrests have been made.
Following the incidents, the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met senior policing leaders in Downing Street on Thursday.
We’ve just heard from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was speaking at a news conference this afternoon – if you missed it, here are the top lines:
- A new “national capability” will be set up across police forces to combat violent disorder
- Sharing intelligence, facial recognition technology and preventative measures to restrict people’s movements will be part of the response
- Starmer said his meeting with police chiefs was to pull together a response to the unrest driven by “far-right hatred” and all other violent disorders that flares up
- The PM described those behind the unrest as a “gang of thugs”, adding that he will not permit a breakdown of law and order on the streets
- He said the pain of the families of the Southport attack victims is “unimaginable”, and the authorities must be given time to do their job
- He told the Muslim community he will “take every step that’s necessary” to keep them safe and the far-right are showing who they are by attacking mosques
- He told social media companies the law must be upheld everywhere over disorder “whipped up online”
“He will say that the shocking events in Southport this week serve as a reminder of the bravery of our emergency service workers and the vitally important work they do to keep the public safe,” it said.
“While the right to peaceful protest must be protected at all costs, he will be clear that criminals who exploit that right in order to sow hatred and carry out violent acts will face the full force of the law.”
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