A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder after three girls were stabbed to death in Southport.
The suspect, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article.
The teenager, from the village of Banks, Lancashire, will appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
The tragic victims of Monday’s attack were six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar.
As well as the three fatalities, eight other children suffered stab wounds in the bloodbath when the attacker stormed a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
Five youngsters are in a critical condition, as are two women who bravely tried to save the children.
Bebe King, six, was the youngest child killed at the holiday club in Southport, Merseyside
Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was also killed in the attack – her grieving mother has since called for calm
Forensic officers are pictured at the scene as emergency crews battled to save children
Forensic officers on Hart Street in Southport, Merseyside, where a horrifying knife rampage took place
Emergency crews swoop on the area after a group of children were attacked at Taylor Swift-themed dance class
Sarah Hammond, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: ‘The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Merseyside Police to charge a 17-year-old male, of Banks, Lancashire, with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder following the tragic incident that took place in Southport this week.
‘He will appear at Liverpool City Magistrates’ Court on Thursday August 1, 2024.
‘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.’
Detectives yesterday said they had been been given more time to question the suspect, who was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after the attack.
False speculation about the suspect’s identity has sparked riots across Southport on Tuesday night, and there was more violence in Hartlepool, London and Manchester on Wednesday.
Southport locals – including Elsie’s mother – have called for the violence to stop after police vans were torched and bricks were hurled in violence that left 53 officers injured in the seaside town.
After rioting broke out, Elsie’s mother, Jenni Stancombe, wrote on Facebook: ‘This is the only thing that I will write, but please please stop the violence in Southport tonight.
‘The police have been nothing but heroic these last 24 hours and they and we don’t need this.’
Southport MP Patrick Hurley, speaking on Wednesday, said rioters must face the ‘full force of the law’, saying they were ‘utterly disrespecting the families of the dead and injured children’.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said rioters had ‘hijacked’ a vigil for victims and will ‘feel the full force of the law’, while Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the rioting as ‘violent attacks from thugs on the streets’, which she branded ‘appalling’.
The Southport riots came barely an hour after thousands of mourners had come together at a vigil to pay their respects to the victims.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
