17 year old boy A British teenager has been charged with three counts of murder after he killed three girls at a dance class in Southport, England, earlier this week. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has also been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a weapon. He is due to appear at Liverpool City Court later on Thursday.
Three children, 6-year-old Baby King, 7-year-old Elsie Dott Stancombe, and 9-year-old Alice Aguiar, were killed in the deadly attack during a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class at Heart Space. Eight other children and two adults were seriously injured, with several still in critical condition.
Merseyside Police announced the charges at a press conference last night. They confirmed that the accused, who was arrested on Monday, is from the village of Banks, Lancashire, about five miles from where the stabbings took place. He was born in Cardiff.
“A 17-year-old boy from Banks has been charged with the murders of Bibi, Elsie Dott and Alice, 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a coded article following the tragic incident in Southport on Monday 29 July,” Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy told reporters. Watchman“The 17-year-old cannot be named for legal reasons as he is under 18. While these charges mark a significant milestone in this investigation, this remains an ongoing investigation and we continue to work with our partners from Lancashire Police and Counter Terrorism Policing in the North West.”
Sarah Hammond, senior prosecutor for the Mersey-Cheshire Crown Prosecution Service, added: “We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the accused are ongoing and that he has the right to a fair trial. It is vital that no reports, comments or sharing of information online are made that would in any way prejudice these proceedings. Our thoughts remain with the families of all those affected by these horrific events.”
The reminder comes after far-right protesters took to the streets of Southport on Tuesday evening. Following a vigil for the young victims, masked protesters threw glass bottles and bricks at police officers and attacked the Southport Islamic Society mosque. Local emergency services treated 39 police officers for injuries sustained during the protest, according to the North West Ambulance Service, and three police dogs were also injured.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote in a statement on Twitter: “The people of Southport are devastated by the horror they experienced yesterday. They deserve our support and respect. Those who hijacked a vigil for the victims with violence and thuggery have dishonoured the community and it is heartbroken. They will feel the full force of the law.”
Further protests took place in London on Wednesday evening in Whitehall, near 10 Downing Street. More than 100 people were arrested during the demonstration. Eight people were also arrested in Hartlepool, where protesters set fire to a police car. Starmer is due to meet senior police chiefs in Downing Street today.
Following Monday’s attack, Swift released a statement expressing her sadness and dismay. “The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport continues to wash over me and I am in complete shock,” Swift wrote on her Instagram Story. “The loss of life and innocence and the horrific trauma experienced by everyone who was there, the families, the first responders. They were just little kids in a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to express my thoughts and sympathies to these families.”
In the UK, the identity of a child aged between 10 and 17 who has been charged with a crime outside of court cannot be revealed. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, defendants “will remain anonymous throughout the proceedings, but these restrictions can be challenged – usually by the media – after the proceedings have concluded.”
