The Prime Minister has visited Southport after a knife attack left three little girls dead and five more in hospital fighting for their lives.
Sir Keir Starmer said the horrific attack in Soutport ‘touches a nerve’ with the whole country as he laid a floral tribute at the scene alongside a note telling the victim’s families ‘the nation’s thoughts are with you’, as he visited Hart Street, Merseyside.
He went on to meet the emergency service workers who responded to the horrific tragedy praising the ‘incredible’ paramedics, firefighters and police officers for ‘saving lives’.
‘I hope you feel proud of the part that you played in the most difficult circumstances, to do what you could for those young lives,’ Sir Keir told them.
The PM’s visit comes as the three little girls who died in the attack were named and pictured, while a 17-year-old boy remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder.
Bebe King, six, was pronounced dead shortly after the attack while Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was also died on Monday. And earlier today, ‘happy smiley’ Alice Aguiar, nine, was named after she died in hospital in the early hours of Tuesday.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer arrives with a floral tribute to the child victims of a knife attack
A note from Sir Keir Starmer left at the scene of the ‘ferocious’ knife attack: ‘There are no words for such profound loss. The nation’s thoughts are with you’
Earlier today, ‘happy smiley’ Alice Aguiar, nine, was named after she died in hospital in the early hours of Tuesday following the attack
Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was also confirmed to have died on Monday as nine other children and two adult women were rushed to hospital
Six-year-old Bebe King was pronounced dead shortly after the attack in Southport on Monday
Five further children, aged between six and 11, remain in a critical condition alongside two female adults, among them hero teacher Leanne Lucas, who ‘bravely tried to protect them’.
The teenager, born in Cardiff, remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder. Detectives are probing him on the incident.
The Labour leader went on to visit Southport Police station where he shook hands with the dozens of firefighters and police officers involved.
He told them: ‘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.’
Sir Keir Starmer shakes hands with emergency workers who responded to yesterday’s knife attack in Southport
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer leaves a floral tribute to the child victims of a knife attack on Hart Street
Speaking to media during his visit to Southport, Sir Keir Starmer 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.’
The Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also visited the town to lay flowers at the police cordon in Southport this morning.
Ms Cooper, Southport MP Patrick Hurley, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer Phil Garrigan and Merseyside police and crime commissioner Emily Spurrell walked to the cordon together, each holding a bouquet of flowers.
A crew from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service also paid tribute. About a dozen firefighters walked together to the cordon on Hart Street and laid flowers, with a message to say they were ‘thinking of everyone involved’.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper pays tribute to the child victims of the horror knife attack
Brave Leanne Lucas, 35, (pictured) who organised the Taylor Swift-themed workshop, suffered stab injuries after the man entered the venue through the unlocked door, which was left open amid the scorching heat
Floral tributes near the scene in Southport today after three children died and nine were injured
The Home Secretary stood for a few moments looking at the tributes before laying her flowers and reading some of the messages left by others.
She and Mr Hurley hugged. She is understood to have met with first responders in the town earlier.
Speaking to the media today, Southport MP Patrick Hurley said: ‘The town is in mourning, the town is in shock this morning. The incident that took place yesterday was uniquely horrific.
‘Southport’s a quiet seaside, coastal town. This has just sent shockwaves through the whole community.
‘It’s a very small town, Southport, and a lot of families across the area will be impacted directly.
‘I think at this stage we need to just reach out, make sure that there’s a level of community healing going on and make sure we give voice to the solidarity that people need right now.’
This is a breaking story. More follows.
