Kids sweep streets as heartbroken locals stand together after riots saw cars torched & shops looted in wake of stabbing
KIDS swept streets as grieving residents of Southport today came out in force to show “love, not hate” towards its Islamic community.
Far right thugs tried to burn down a mosque close to the scene of Monday’s stabbings.
Hundreds of EDL followers descended on the town and launched a terrifying attack armed with bricks, bottles and lumps of masonry.
A line of courageous cops stood firm to protect the mosque as five worshippers cowered inside.
This morning residents flocked to the scene to show their support bringing cups of tea, toast and water.
Workmen set about repairing a damaged wall while a 19-year-old waitress swept up remnants of the riot as her father-in-law blew away the brick dust.
A vicar said: “Last night wasn’t what Southport is about – we are a town of love and this is how we show it.”
Among those who suffered during the riot last night were a shopkeeper who lost £10,000 of stuff when it was looted by rioters, despite white members of the local community trying to protect it.
The show of solidarity also saw a call from the mum of Elsie Stancombe – one of three victims so far from the attack – make an appeal for the violence to stop.
In a message widely shared online, Jenni Stancombe said: “This is the only thing that I will write, but please stop the violence in Southport tonight.
“The police have been nothing but heroic these last 24 hours and they and we don’t need this.”
A couple whose business was at the epicentre of the street battle between police and thugs are now counting the cost.
Rob and Tracey Whitfield own a heating and plumbing business on St Luke’s Road where yobs targeted the Islamic centre.
A police van was torched inches from the couple’s shop.
Last night they watched in horror as an army of bare chested racists battled police outside their shop.
Rob said: “The windows are cracked and there is heat damage from the fire. It will cost several thousand pounds to repair, at the least.”
The couple were also concerned for a woman who lives in a flat above the shop.
Tracey said: “This is the worst event I can remember in Southport’s history. I am so disappointed in people in general.
“There seems to be no boundaries. There is rumour they will be back at some point soon so we will wait and see.”
A shopkeeper whose business was looted by yobs thanked the community for helping to save it.
Chanuka Balasuriya, 47, said that locals warned him to close the Windsor Mini-Mart last night as thugs fought with police in the street.
Merseyside Police has said 39 officers suffered injuries, with 27 taken to hospital.
The shop was a few hundred yards from a major flashpoint outside the mosque on the corner of Sussex Road.
'Southport's in mourning'
Bea Honeybone, 19, spent the morning sweeping up debris outside the mosque.
The waitress said: “It’s awful. We want to do anything we can to help because innocent people have been attacked.
“The events of last night have taken it away from the actual innocent children who have lost their lives.
“Southport’s in mourning and all of us are in shock. And sadly quite a few people came here and ruined our town, damaged properties and we just want to help.
“We’ve been doing anything we can, helping shovel stuff, just whatever to help.
“I’ve had a few hugs from people, strangers showing love. People are trying to come together.”
Bea told how her boyfriend Alan, 19, was taught by yoga teacher Leanne Lucas.
She added: “My partner’s primary school teacher was Miss Lucas, the lady who is in critical care at the minute.
“He was her favourite teacher. Apparently just a gorgeous woman who wants to help people.
“So that was quite a shock. But we’re lucky that we don’t know anyone who has died.”
Alan, 19, who attended Churchtown primary school, said: “She was my teacher in Year 4. She was lovely to us, really nice.
“She also taught lots of our PE classes as well. She was always very smiley and bright. She was always nice.
“I think I had quite a strict Year 3 teacher and then I went through to Year 4 and she was just nice.”
Speaking of the riot, he slammed rioters for using a tragedy for their own political agenda.
He said: “I think its just horrendous to see how many police were injured and even the dogs. Its radical and I just can’t quite grasp it.”
Alan’s dad Peter McVicar, 49, is course manager at Hesketh golf course, a mile from the scene.
Mr McVicar and his colleague David Williams, 34, were using their leaf blowers to blast away brick dust and debris left behind from the rioters.
Peter said: “Southport’s a great place, part of Great Britain. Great Britain’s great because it’s multi-cultural and welcomes everybody.
“Southport is like that. People who were here last night have nothing to do with Southport.”
Chanuka, a father-of-two, said that after closing up shortly after 7pm he went home, but was forced to return following reports that the shop had been broken into.
Chanuka told of his terror as thugs smashed their way inside the shop and then set fire to a wheelie bin in the doorway.
He said: “At one point the streets were like a war zone. My main concern was the woman who lives up stairs and her daughter.”
The Southport dad, a buddhist, said that the woman came down and remonstrated with the thugs.
He said: “She told me she came down to them and told them to clear off.
“I just want to thank the community for doing their best for me. Last night and this morning. Everyone has looked after me.”
Chanuka knocked back suggestions the police should have done more to protect his shop.
He said: “They did their best on the night.”
He pinned the blame for what happened firmly on the thugs who were not from Southport.
He said that thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes and alcohol had been stolen from the shop last night.
Mr Balasuriya, who has a son aged 11 and daughter 18, said that he became anxious earlier in the evening when he realised there were strangers in his shop.
He said: “I didn’t recognise their accents, and I know or recognise most of my customers.”
Despite the break-in he said he can’t wait to re-open and get back to serving the community.
He said: “Everyone knows this place as the green shop. It’s a safe place for everyone.”
Norman Wallis, 61, the chairman of the Pleasureland amusement park, said of the riots: “It was absolute mayhem – it was like a war zone. But this wasn’t the people of Southport.
“There were people bussed in from outside, intent on causing carnage.
“They were organised criminals who have hijacked our town’s collective grief.
“This morning we’ve come together and rolled up our sleeves to clean up the streets.
“That’s what real community is and what Southport is all about.”
Mr Wallis added: “These yobs are nothing to do with Southport. It is a wonderful town to live and visit and no-one should ever feel scared to come here.
“The people causing the trouble, they’re not from this area. They’re cowards who have come in on the buses and trains with face coverings and a change of clothes.
“They’ve got their own agenda which is nothing to do with.the people who live and work here.
“They haven’t got the slightest care or consideration for how the families of the children are feeling.
“Their lives have changed forever and their grief is being weaponised by thugs.”
Southport summer camp attack timeline
Monday, July 29
10am
Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance workshop begins at The Hart Space in Hart Street
11.47am
Police called to reports of a stabbing, and a major incident is declared
5.25pm
Police confirm 17-year-old male was arrested – and later clarify he was detained on suspicion of murder and attempted murder
7.18pm
Police confirm two young children have died
Tuesday, July 30
8.30am
Police confirm suspect continues to be questioned
10.30am
Taylor Swift posts tribute on Instagram
12.30pm
Police confirm a third girl, aged nine, has died – also say ages of first two deaths were six and seven
3.20pm
Police named the three victims as Bebe King, six; Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.
Southport mosque chairman Ibrahim Hussein said: “I would like to thank the police very, very, very much indeed.
“I’m very sorry for the causalities that the police took. They took a very bad beating.
“I would love to make it better but there’s nothing I can do about it.
“But I would like to thank them for their support because at one point we thought they (the rioters) were coming in and they were going to burn the place down.”
Mr Hussein said the mosque was open and added: “I will pray for the whole of Southport, I will pray for the victims of the awful attack on Monday, I will pray for the police and I will pray for the whole community to stay as beautiful as it has always been.”
He said the Muslim community still felt vulnerable, adding he had seen messages the day before indicating something was going to happen.
Mr Hussein described the attack on the dance class as “absolutely heartbreaking”.