A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder and attempted murder after 13 people, including 11 children, were stabbed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, police said.
Merseyside police said they charged the suspect, who is from the village of Banks, Lancashire, with three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of an offensive weapon. He will appear at Liverpool city magistrates court on Wednesday morning.
Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were fatally stabbed, while five children remain in critical condition after they were attacked while taking part in a dance and yoga class on Monday morning.
Two adults, who were injured trying to protect the children, were also in a critical condition.
The suspect, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested on Monday. Earlier on Wednesday, detectives were granted more time to question the teenager. The only details released about the suspect are his age, that he is from the village of Banks, about five miles from where the stabbings took place, and was born in Cardiff.
Serena Kennedy, chief constable of Merseyside Police, said: “A 17-year old-boy from Banks has been charged with the murders of Bebe, Elsie Dot and Alice, 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article following the tragic incident in Southport on Monday 29 July. The 17 year old cannot be named for legal reasons as he’s under 18.
“Whilst these charges are a significant milestone within this investigation, this remains very much a live investigation and we continue to work with our partners from Lancashire police and counter-terrorism police in northwest.
“I would like to thank all the forces who have offered and supplied support to Merseyside Police during the last three days and I can confirm that we are being supported with investigative resources from across the northwest.”
Sarah Hammond, chief crown prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: “We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings. Our thoughts remain with the families of all of those affected by these harrowing events.”
The charge came hours after there were scenes of violent disorder on Wednesday in central London as crowds of protesters marched on Downing Street. Demonstrators threw flares and cans while chanting “Rule Britannia”, “save our kids” and “stop the boats”, while police were seen wrestling a man off the road and onto the pavement next to the Cenotaph. Others attempted to kick down a fence and were confronted by riot police. More than 100 people were arrested, the Metropolitan police said.
There was also a protest in Hartlepool, County Durham, which resulted in four people being arrested after police officers had missiles, glass bottles and eggs thrown at them. Late in the night a police vehicle was set alight in the town centre.
Several officers suffered minor injuries responding to the disorder, Cleveland police said. Jonathan Brash, the Labour MP for the town, said he was “deeply concerned” about the situation and would be meeting with police to discuss their response to the incident.
Brash wrote on X: “These events do not represent what Hartlepool is or the values that our people hold. Violence is never the answer.”
More than 50 police officers were injured in far-right riots in Southport on Tuesday night, which broke out as the town reeled from the knife attack that killed three children. Five people have been arrested over the disturbances, police said.
The mother of Elsie, one of the children who was killed, intervened in a bid to diffuse tensions. “This is the only thing that I will write, but please, please stop the violence in Southport tonight,” Jenni Stancombe said.
“The police have been nothing but heroic these last 24 hours and they and we don’t need this.”
Alex Goss, assistant chief constable for Merseyside police, said: “Our work to identify all those responsible for the despicable violence and aggression seen on the streets of Southport on Tuesday continues.
“We have been inundated with images and footage from members of the public who were outraged at the destruction carried out. The individuals involved in the disorder had no regard for the families and friends of those who so tragically lost their lives, and a community in grief.
“It has been heartening today to see the reaction of the whole community, who have pulled together to clean the streets, rebuild walls and re-glaze broken windows.”
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