Culture Society, Identity and Belonging
Last night, a community vigil was held in Southport for the three girls who were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on Monday. After misinformation spread online that the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker, that vigil will be remembered as a riot. Hundreds, believed to have included English Defence League members, descended on a local mosque in the seaside town. Bricks from destroyed garden walls were thrown at the mosque and police. Cars, bins and police vehicles were set alight. Merseyside Police said 39 of its officers were injured. A 17 year-old boy who lives in Lancashire has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. The motive for the attack is still under investigation, but the police have been clear the suspect was born in the United Kingdom.
The prime minister, Keir Starmer, said those who had "hijacked the vigil for the victims with violence and thuggery" would "feel the full force of the law".
Merseyside Police have named the three victims as six year-old Bebe King; seven year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine year-old Alice Aguiar. Alice’s family said in a statement: “Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do, our Princess.” Eight other children suffered stab wounds and five are still in a critical condition. Two adults were also critically injured in the attack.
Thousands of Taylor Swift fans have donated more than a £260,000 to an online fundraiser for the victims and their families while the global popstar released a statement saying she was "completely in shock" at the stabbings.
Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss told reporters the unrest involved many people "who do not live in the Merseyside area or care about the people of Merseyside".
