A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder and attempted murder following a mass stabbing at The Hart Space community centre in Southport.
The attack resulted in the deaths of three children: six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar. The suspect, from Banks in Lancashire but born in Cardiff, Wales, was arrested on Monday.
He faces three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder, and possession of a knife. He is set to appear at Liverpool City Magistrates Court.
The incident occurred during a “Taylor Swift Yoga and Dance Workshop” for children aged 7 to 11. Eight other children and two adults were injured, with several in critical condition. Sarah Hammond, chief crown prosecutor for Mersey-Cheshire, emphasized the need for a fair trial and cautioned against prejudicial reporting.
In the aftermath, violent protests erupted in London, Hartlepool, and Aldershot. Over 100 people were arrested in London for offenses including violent disorder and assault on an emergency worker. Protesters clashed with riot police, with some shouting slogans associated with far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
In Hartlepool, eight people were detained after protesters threw missiles and set a police car on fire. In Aldershot, MP Alex Baker condemned the violence, asserting that it does not represent the community.
The unrest was partly fueled by false claims online that the stabbing suspect was an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK by boat.
