A 17-year-old boy has been charged with three counts of murder for killing 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 in Liverpool City Magistrates' Court later today, Thursday.
Three children, Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Aguiar, 9, were killed in the deadly attack, which took place during a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class at Hart Space. Eight other children and two adults suffered serious injuries, with several still in critical condition.
Merseyside Police announced the charges during a press conference last night. They confirmed the defendant, who was arrested on Monday, is from the village of Banks, Lancashire, which is 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 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,” Serena Kennedy, chief constable of Merseyside police, told press, per The Guardian. “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 the north-west.”
Sarah Hammond, chief crown prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire, added, “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 reminder comes after far-right protesters took to the streets of Southport on Tuesday night. Following a vigil held 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 sustained injuries during the protest, according to the North West Ambulance Service, and three police dogs were also injured.
“The people of Southport are reeling after the horror inflicted on them yesterday,” British prime minister Keir Starmer wrote in a statement on X. “They deserve our support and our respect. Those who have hijacked the vigil for the victims with violence and thuggery have insulted the community as it grieves. They will feel the full force of the law.”
Further protests took place on Wednesday night in London on Whitehall, near 10 Downing Street. More than 100 people were arrested during the demonstration. Eight people were also arrested in Hartlepool, where a police car was set on fire by protesters. Starmer is set to meet with senior police leaders at Downing Street today.
Following the attack on Monday, Swift released a statement expressing her sorrow and dismay. “The horror of yesterday's attack in Southport is washing over me continuously and I'm just completely in shock,” Swift wrote on Instagram Stories. “The loss of life and innocence and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families, and first responders. These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”
In the UK, the identity of a child between 10 and 17 who has been charged with a crime cannot be disclosed outside the court. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, defendants “will remain anonymous throughout proceedings but these restrictions can be challenged — usually by the media — after proceedings have ended.”
