Heartbreaking tributes at vigil for three girls killed at Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport
MOURNERS have gathered at a vigil to pay tribute to three girls killed in the Southport stabbing attack.
Hundreds rallied together in solidarity outside The Aktinson art gallery in Merseyside to pay their respects after the knife rampage yesterday.
Large crowds joined in a minute of silence to pay tribute to Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar.
Some lit candles while others lay flowers and reflected on yesterday’s tragedy.
The mayor of Sefton, June Burns, told the vigil that the scale of the tragedy “hit her” when she laid flowers at the scene thinking about how the children involved were at a Taylor Swift dance class.
“It really gets you, you can’t help but cry because of the outpouring of grief.”
“I hope you all here find some comfort from somebody here. Let their families grieve in the way they wish to grieve,” she added.
The ten-minute vigil, held in the centre of Southport ended with a round of applause.
Alice, Bebe and Elsie had been at a Taylor Swift-themed “yoga and dance” holiday club when the chaos unfolded.
The fully booked club for children quickly became something “like a horror movie”, witnesses to the deadly stabbings have said.
A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder following the incident at the dance studio in Hart Street.
Merseyside Police said the motive is currently unclear and said the shocking scenes were not suspected to be terror-related.
Home secretary Yvette Cooper told the House of Commons the whole house and country is united in shock and grief at the terrible events.
She said she met with first responders who responded with heroism and professionalism.
Cooper said they told her nothing can prepare you for an attack on small children.
Bebe and Elsie, aged six and seven, were identified as the first victims in the attack just before midday.
In tribute to Bebe, her devastated family said: “No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as try to deal with the loss of our little girl Bebe.”
Heartbroken friends and family then paid tribute to Alice, saying she was killed by a “despicable human being”.
Headteacher Jinnie Payne said: “It is with great sadness that we heard the tragic news about the three children who died following yesterday’s atrocity, including Alice Da Silva Aguiar, a Year 4 pupil at Churchtown, and Bebe King, a former pupil.
“Alice was the happiest of souls, a true ray of sunshine. She was known and loved by everyone in our school community of 700 children, a testament to her unique ability to connect with others.
“Bebe was a joyful girl, whose kindness radiated through the entire Churchtown community. During her time at the school, Bebe’s considerate nature and her love of learning shone through in everything that she did.”
Ms Payne added that a “number” of other children from Churchtown were involved in the attack, as well as colleagues.
Teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, is understood to be fighting for her life in hospital after “bravely trying to protect” kids at the Hart Space Studios.
Her colleague Heidi, also 35, escaped uninjured after heroically locking some of the children inside a toilet to keep them safe.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Hayes, 63, ran into the dance studio and tried to fend off the attacker moments after hearing screams from his nearby office and was stabbed in the leg.
A video obtained by ITV shows an individual wearing a green hoodie and face mask pacing back and forth outside the front door.
The doorbell footage then shows several police cars and a group of officers, including some who are armed, appearing at the same house.
A staff member at the Hart Space, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she heard the suspect was wearing a “black hood” when he reportedly stabbed multiple children.
Locals said the suspect had got out of a taxi minutes before noon before his launching his attack.
He accessed the Hart Space Studios because a door was left open amid sweltering heat.
Police have said that, although the motive for the attack is unclear, it is not believed to be terror-related.
Taylor Swift said she is “completely in shock” after the “horror” of the knife attack.
Prime Minister pays his respects
Sir Keir Starmer this afternoon shook the hands of emergency services after saying he wanted to give them a personal thank you for their efforts yesterday.
The Prime Minister spoke to the group as he laid floral tributes near the scene, that claimed the lives of three innocent girls.
Sir Keir said: “I know you would go and face any situation that was put in front of you, you do it every day.
“But there’s no pretending that what you dealt with yesterday was ordinary or just a usual response. It was really, really difficult. I just wanted to say a personal thank you to each of you, that’s why I wanted to shake each of your hands, for what you did yesterday.
“I’m incredibly proud of what you did.
“I’m amazed, but not surprised, that you’re in today, carrying on with your duties.
“I really want you to focus on the fact that there are children today alive because of what you did yesterday. That is incredible. It’s what you do every day but it’s the most difficult of circumstances.
“I don’t want you to think for a minute the rest of the country has not seen that.”
Speaking to media during his visit to Southport, Sir Keir said: “I came here to pay my respects to the victims and families who are going through raw pain and grief that most of us can’t imagine – I can’t imagine, as a dad myself.
“To get a briefing from the chief constable and the emergency services about the ongoing investigation but, also, importantly, to have the opportunity to say to those that were responding yesterday from emergency services, say a personal thank you to them and to shake their hand, and to say that as Prime Minister on behalf of the country, we are grateful for what they did.
“They, of course, say that they will respond, they’re professionals, to anything, but there’s no pretending that what they had to respond to yesterday was ordinary.
“It was very, very difficult. They were absolutely professional. And it was important for me to come and say simple words – thank you.”