At least 39 police officers have been injured in clashes outside a mosque in Southport, as angry crowds of suspected English Defence League supporters threw bricks and set off fireworks. The unrest followed a peaceful vigil for the victims of Monday’s shocking attack in which multiple children were stabbed – three fatally – in a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. A police van was set on fire on Tuesday night while men in balaclavas were pushed back by officers, with 27 officers requiring hospital treatment.
Earlier, Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss said: “There has been much speculation and hypothesis around the status of a 17-year-old male who is currently in police custody, and some individuals are using this to bring violence and disorder to our streets.” The three young girls killed in Monday’s tragic knife attack have been named as Bebe King, six; Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine. Eight other children suffered stab wounds and at least two are still in a critical condition, alongside two adults who were critically injured.
Armed police detained 17-year-old boy from Banks and seized a knife in connection with the stabbings, which is not suspected to be terror-related. Five more children are fighting for their lives following the tragedy, along with two dance class teachers who bravely tried to defend their pupils from the attack. Footage shows a person pacing outside a house raided by armed police after the Southport stabbings, as doorbell camera video appears to show the individual, dressed in a green hoody and face mask, circling the front door of a property just a 15-minute drive from a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop where the tragic incident occurred.
ITV, who obtained the footage, reported locals saw police raid the same house around two hours later. Sir Keir Starmer said rioters in Southport on Tuesday evening had “hijacked” a vigil for victims and would “feel the full force of the law”. The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, described the rioting outside a mosque in Southport as “violent attacks from thugs on the streets”, branding it as “appalling”. At least 39 police officers were injured in the riots, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemning the violence and promising that the rioters would face the full force of the law.
The North West Ambulance Service declared a major incident after 22 police officers were treated for injuries and 11 were taken to the hospital. The tragic events in Southport have brought a wave of familiar dread, as the community mourns the loss of the three young girls and prays for the recovery of the injured children and adults. The police continue to investigate the incident and ensure the safety and security of the community in Southport.
