A 17-year-old boy from Banks, Lancashire 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. The victims include Alice Dasilva Aguiar, Bebe King, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, while five children remain in critical condition.
The suspect, whose identity cannot be revealed due to legal reasons, will appear in court on Wednesday morning with charges including three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder, and one count of possession of an offensive weapon. Police are working with Lancashire police and counter-terrorism police on the investigation.
Following the tragic incident, there were violent protests in London and Hartlepool, resulting in multiple arrests. More than 50 police officers were injured in far-right riots in Southport, which broke out as the town was reeling from the knife attack. The mother of one of the victims pleaded for an end to the violence, emphasizing the heroic efforts of the police in responding to the tragedy.
Chief Constable Serena Kennedy of Merseyside Police thanked other forces for their support and emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing. Chief Crown Prosecutor Sarah Hammond urged the public to refrain from sharing information online that could prejudice the case. The community in Southport has come together to clean up and rebuild after the disturbances that followed the horrific attack.
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