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King Charles, Prince William and Sir Keir Starmer pay tribute as two children dead in Southport knife attack
29 July 2024, 12:55 | Updated: 30 July 2024, 00:42
Two children have been killed and nine more injured, along with two adults who were trying to protect them in a stabbing attack in Southport, with a 17-year-old boy arrested.
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Six of the children hurt are in a critical condition in hospital, along with both of the two adults.
Police said they are not treating the "ferocious" attack as terror-related, but that they were still unclear on the motive.
Officers said in a press conference on Monday that the 17-year-old suspect had been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
More than 100 across London, Manchester and Hartlepool were arrested last night after violent disorder spread following's a stabbing spree in Southport on Monday.
- Riots erupted in Southport on Tuesday night, with the far-right EDL believed to be involved.
- Victims named as Bebe King, six; Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine
- The attack, which took place at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, has also left eight more hurt. Five of those children are in a critical condition
- Two adults, believed to be children's dance and yoga teachers, are also in a critical condition
- A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and a knife has been seized at the scene
- Police do not think the attack was terror-related
- Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was heckled as he visited scene
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Boy, 17, charged with three counts of murder following Southport stabbings
A 17-year-old boy has been charged with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder following Monday's Southport stabbings.
Three girls, six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, lost their lives in the attack on a Taylor Swift dance and yoga class on Monday.
The 17-year-old boy has also been charged with possession of a bladed article, Merseyside Police confirmed during a hastily arranged press conference at midnight on Wednesday.
Sarah Hammond, chief crown prosecutor for Mersey-Cheshire, confirmed the suspect is from the nearby village of Banks in Lancashire, but was born in Cardiff, Wales.
Two adults - including one organiser of the event - and five children remain in a critical condition in hospital following the violent attack which took place at The Hart Space community centre.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been remanded in police custody and will appear at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Thursday morning.
Disorder also spread to Hartlepool and Manchester
There were also arrests in Hartlepool and Manchester after disorder broke out parallel to the violent protest in London.
Cleveland Police said: "Eight arrests were made during the evening relating to public order offences.
"A full criminal investigation is under way and we expect further arrests to be made in the coming days."
Greater Manchester Police added: "At around 6pm this evening our officers were called to reports of a demonstration on Oldham Road in Newton Heath.
"Local patrols supported by specialised units, were deployed and dispersed the group after objects were thrown, towards the police and public.
"Due to the early intervention from our officers this criminal behaviour thankfully didn’t cause any serious injury or damage.
"Two men aged 18 and 25 were later arrested for violent disorder and assault of an emergency worker and remain in custody at this time for questioning.
"Enquiries into a further related report of an assault of a bus driver is ongoing at this stage."
More than 100 arrested in London
More than 100 people were arrested by the Met last night after a protest planned by Tommy Robinson and Laurence Fox turned violent.
They were arrested for offences including violent disorder, assault on an emergency worker, and breach of protest conditions.
Some officers were injured.
It follows riots in Southport on Tuesday - near where the stabbing spree occurred - during which more than 50 police officers were injured.
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Boy, 17, charged with three counts of murder following Southport stabbings
A 17-year-old boy has been charged with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder following Monday's Southport stabbings.
Police held a hastily arranged press conference at Midnight on Wednesday, with Merseyside Police confirming the teen had been charged with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder.
They confirmed he had also been charged with possession of a bladed article.
The suspect, who the force confirmed is from the nearby village of Banks in Lancashire, but was born in Cardiff, Wales, was arrested on Monday.
England forward donates £10,000 to Southport fundraiser
England international Anthony Gordon has donated £10,000 to the victims of Monday's mass stabbing in Southport.
The 23-year-old Merseyside born footballer pledged the five-figure sum to the GoFundMe account set up by the dance community following the tragic attack.
The fundraiser, set up by the Southport Dance Group Emergency Fund, has now amassed almost £50,000 in total with proceeds going towards the victims of the attack.
Fifth arrest made following Southport violence
Police have made a fifth arrest following last night's violence in Southport, Merseyside Police have confirmed.
A 39-year-old man was detained on Wednesday following Tuesday night's Southport riots, after officers recognised him from footage circulating of the disorder.
The force was said to be attending to a report of domestic abuse on Wednesday when they identified the man and the arrest took place.
The force later took the suspect to hospital for treatment for a head injury which was believed to have been sustained after the individual threw rocks at officers, as well as striking a police van.
The man was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, threats to kill and a racially aggravated public order offence, police confirmed.
'Don't say I didn't warn you': Tommy Robinson reposts footage from Hartlepool unrest
Tommy Robinson has taken to X to repost footage of Wednesday night's unrest, accompanying the footage with the caption 'don't say we didn't warn you'.
It follows unrest in London and Hartlepool in the wake of Tuesday night's clashes with riot police in Southport.
Protestors in London could be heard chanting the outspoken far-Right activist's name as they took to Downing Street earlier in the evening.
"We have heard a lot of chants about Tommy Robinson, but it seems the police have a good handle on this, they know how to police this area, they do it often," said one witness to the unrest on Downing Street.
Unrest continues as riot police line streets Hartlepool town centre
Riot police have taken to the streets of Hartlepool in the wake of last night's protests in Southport.
Rocks were hurled and loud bangs could be heard as the large group clashed with police in the town centre.
Footage emerging from the scene shows individuals wearing balaclavas taking aim at the police with what appear to be large wooden bats.
