Summary
Three girls who were killed in the mass stabbing in Southport on Monday have been named by police
Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, died on Monday; Alice Aguiar, 9, died in the early hours of Tuesday
Five children and two adults remain in a critical condition after the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class
The event was organised by Leanne Lucas - people have paid tribute to her bravery but her condition is not known - while a local man has been called a "hero" for intervening in the attack
Swift herself has reacted, saying "the horror of yesterday's attack in Southport is washing over me continuously"
A 17-year-old male, arrested on suspicion of murder, remains in custody
He was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents and moved to Southport in 2013 - in Cardiff, ex-neighbours remember a "normal family" with "normal kids"
Live Reporting
Edited by Aoife Walsh. Warning – this page contains distressing details.
One of saddest days in our history, says local councilpublished at 17:54
17:54
Sefton Council has described the stabbing attack as “one of the saddestdays in the borough’s history”.
It has been a “tremendouslydifficult time for the people of Sefton," says council leader Marion Atkinson – but she adds: "I know we will come through this stronger".
“I know our communitywill stay strong and that has been seen in the truly amazing acts of kindnessthat have happened since Monday," she says.
"The offers of support that we’ve had from across the worldare much appreciated.”
Alice was 'the happiest of souls'published at 17:40
17:40
Image source, PA MediaJinnie Payne, the head teacher of Churchtown Primary School where Alice Dasilva Aguiar was a pupil in Year 4, says the nine-year-old was "the happiest of souls" and "a true ray of sunshine".
"She was known and loved by everyone in our school community of 700 children, a testament to her unique ability to connect with others," says Payne.
Bebe - who was a former pupil of the school - was a "joyful girl", the head teacher adds
"During her time at the school, Bebe's considerate nature and her love of learning shone through in everything that she did."
A number of other children from the school were also involved in the attack, Payne adds, as well as "much-loved colleagues".
Man tells of moment he 'locked eyes' with attackerpublished at 17:11
17:11
Image source, Level Up Gym- Warning – this post contains distressing details.
A personal trainer who intervened in the stabbing in Southport has described "locking eyes" with the attacker.
Joel Verite, who also works as a window cleaner, says he was on a lunch break with a colleague when he encountered a woman covered in blood on Hart Street who screamed at them: "He's killing kids over there, he's killing kids over there."
He says he entered the building and saw the attacker holding a knife at the top of the stairs, who then ran off.
"I open the door downstairs ... there's a guy at the bottom of the stairs with a full tracksuit, his hood up, with a knife.
"We've looked at each other and he's scurried off to the side," he tells Sky News.
Verite says that what he saw will "probably stay with me for the rest of my life".
"I just wanted to hurt him so bad," says Verite. "But I was scared for myself and I wanted to help people."
This is a stark reminder of need to address knife crime – charitypublished at 16:51
16:51
Rachel Flynn
Live reporterImage source, PA MediaA national knife crime charity tells me yesterday's attack serves as a "stark reminder of the urgent need to address the root causes of violence" and tackle knife crime.
The Ben Kinsella Trust,, external which in 2010 successfully lobbied the government to raise the mandatory life sentence for knife-related murder from 15 to 25 years, was set up by the the family of Ben Kinsella - who was stabbed to death in 2008.
The spokesperson adds: "As anorganisation set up by a family who lost a son and brother to knife crime, theBen Kinsella Trust is acutely aware of the devastating impact that knife crimehas on the lives it touches."
Knife crime in England and Wales increased by 4% in 12 months to March 2024, according to figures by the Office for National Statistics, external. But overall knife-enabled crime is still 3% lower than March 2020.
'A bright and wonderful shining star'published at 16:31
16:31
Image source, HandoutAs we've reported this afternoon, the three girls killed in yesterday's attack have been named as Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar.
NatashaSandland, head teacher of Marshside Primary School, says they are "deeply saddened" at the loss of "one of our brightestand most wonderful shining stars in Bebe".
"Right now our focusis on supporting Bebe’s family and her friends, our staff and our community whohave been left numb by this tragic incident.
"As a schoolcommunity we will be grieving together as we stand with others in Southport.Rest in Peace Bebe."
Jennifer Sephton, head teacher at Farnborough Road Infant School, describes Elsie as a "kind and caring friend to all who met her".
"Elsie has been aloving and bright member of our wonderful community since first being broughthere on her father’s shoulders, and even at her early age she was such a caringand charismatic young lady who loved to please."
Image source, HandoutVigil for victims to take place in Southport tonightpublished at 16:25
16:25
Image source, PA MediaA vigil will take place in Southport tonight, Sefton Council has confirmed.
In a post on social media, they said a gathering to remember the victims will take place at 18:00 BST outside The Atkinson on Lord Street.
A book of remembrance will be available, with another set to open at Bootle Town Hall.
Starmer pays tribute to victims, their families and emergency workerspublished at 16:20
16:20
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he visited Southport to pay respects to victims and their families who are experiencing "raw pain and grief that most of us can't imagine".
He also offered thanks to the emergency service workers, shaking the hands of firefighters and ambulance staff on a visit to a police station.
Starmer told them he is "incredibly proud" of their actions, adding:
Quote Message
I really want you to focus on the fact that there are children today alive because of what you did yesterday. That is incredible."
Shortly afterwards, he laid a flowers at the scene of yesterday's attack, and was also heckled by some members of the public.
Among the things shouted at the PM was: "How many more people will die on our streets, prime minister? How many more children?"
Image source, PA MediaAlder Hey Children's Hospital says two children critical but stablepublished at 16:07
16:07Breaking
Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool has just released this statement:
"We can confirm that seven children were brought to Alder Hey following the heartbreaking incident in Southport yesterday.
"Sadly, despite all our efforts one child has since died. The remaining children are continuing to receive treatment with two remaining in critical care but currently in a stable condition.
"The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Alder Hey remain with the children, young people and their families involved in and all those affected by yesterday's incident.
"We will continue to provide them with all the support we can at this devastating time."
As a reminder, across all hospitals, five children and two adults remain in a critical condition.
Portuguese PM remembers Alice Aguiarpublished at 15:47
15:47
Gerard Couzens
Live reporterAlice Aguiar, who died in the early hours of Tuesday, was an only child. She is understood to have been born in the UK.
Although her mum describes herself on Facebook as having been born inVenezuela, Portuguese newspapers are reporting she and her husband emigrated toBritain from the village of Quinta Grande in Madeira.
A spokesman for the Madeiran regional government said in a statement today: "Itwas with great sadness that the Regional Government of Madeira learned of thedeath of 9-year-old Alice Aguiar, the daughter of Madeirans, following theattack on a dance centre in Southport, UK.
"The regional government... sends a heartfelt hug to the parents and itsdeepest condolences to the bereaved family."
Portuguese PM Luis Montenegro said: "It is with deep sadness that I receivedthe news on the attack that took place yesterday in Southport in the UnitedKingdom, for which I have no words to describe.
"On my behalf and that of the Portuguese government I express heartfeltcondolences to the families of the victims and to the British government andpeople."
Specialist officers assisting investigation - but attack not seen as terror-relatedpublished at 15:37
15:37
Daniel De Simone
Investigations correspondentIt's understood that detectives from Counter Terrorism Policing North West are actively providing support to the investigation into the attack in Southport yesterday.
Merseyside Police have said it's not currently being treated as a terrorist incident.
Yesterday, Chief Constable Serena Kennedy told a news conference that Counter Terrorism Police North West had "offered their support" to the force - but she said the attack was not being treated as terror-related.
Families share photographs of three children killed in Southportpublished at 15:29
15:29Breaking
Here's a bit more from the police's statement, in which the three girls killed in yesterday's attack were named.
The family of Bebe King, 6 - who's seen in the photograph above – furthest to the right – have said: "No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as we try to deal with the loss of our little girl Bebe."
Meanwhile, the family of nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar – pictured in the middle – paid this tribute: "Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our Princess, like we said before to you, you're always our princess and no one would change that. Love from Your Hero Daddy and Mummy."
Police name three girls killed in yesterday's attackpublished at 15:18
15:18Breaking
Merseyside Police have just released a statement, naming the three girls killed in yesterday's attack in Southport.
They are Bebe King, six; Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.Their families, who are being supported by specialist officers, have asked that their privacy is respected at this time, the statement adds.
'You were just an innocent child' - relative remembers Alice Aguiarpublished at 15:05
15:05
In our last post, we mentioned that a relative of Alice Aguiar - the nine-year-old who's been named as one of the Southport stabbing victims - had posted about her death on social media.
Here's Carina Aguiar's statement in full, translated from Portuguese:
"Princess Alice....In this moment of such pain....It hurts the soul....it hurts the body....it hurts the mind....
"A lump in the throat....you were just an innocent child.....a happy girl....smiling....who had a bright life ahead of her....Which a despicable being took from you...without mercy or pity...without any reason....
"Look after your parents....Who suffer.....Who are desolate...destroyed....look after them....Fly high our little star....I love you."
Image source, Facebook/David AguiarPortuguese minister confirms child's deathpublished at 14:51
14:51
Here's a bit more on Alice Aguiar - the girl who's been named as one of the children killed in Southport.
Speaking to a Portuguese TV channel, government minister Jose Cesario said: "Unfortunately a child who is the daughter of Portuguese parents originally from Madeira region has died.
"She was nine years old. She was one of the victims of this awful crime.
"The family lives in Southport. The parents are in a state of shock. We are going to continue to give them the support they need, we are in direct contact with an aunt of the young girl."
The minister also said the Portuguese consul general in Manchester "confirmed the family's registration in our consular records and contacted a relative of the victim, an aunt - the parents are in a state of shock".
Earlier on Facebook, a relative of Alice's described a "moment of such pain" and said it "hurts the soul, hurts the body".
Nine-year-old Alice Aguiar named as one of the victimspublished at 14:41
14:41Breaking
Image source, GoFundMeOne of the children killed in yesterday's stabbing attack in Southport has been named as Alice Aguiar.
As we've been reporting, another two children were also killed and five more are still in a critical condition.
Two adults are also in a critical condition.
In pictures: The scene in Southportpublished at 14:28
14:28
Here's some of the latest images coming out of Southport, where locals are continuing to visit the scene of the attack:
Image source, PA MediaImage source, PA MediaImage source, EPAImage source, PA MediaTaylor Swift fans raise more than £100,000published at 14:15
14:15
Earlier we reported that Taylor Swift fans were fundraising for Alder Hey Children's Charity to help the families affected.
The "Swifties for Southport" campaign has now hit £100,000 - far more than the original target of £13,000.
The page explains they are trying to "raise money for the families affected by the tragedy in Southport, and raising funeral funds for the two young Swifties who have tragically passed".
Taylor Swift earlier released a tribute, saying she was "at a complete loss for how to ever convey [her] sympathies to these families".
Image source, PA MediaParents 'terrified' of sending children to summer clubspublished at 13:57
13:57
A children's entertainer from Southport says local parents are now "terrified" of sending their children to summer groups.
Richard Townes tells PA news agency: "This is supposed to be the start of the summer holidays and parents in WhatsApp groups are now terrified of sending their children to summer clubs.
"I have a five-year-old daughter who could have just as easily been at the class. I feel helpless and like I can't do anything."
'Thinking of everyone' say firefighters as they pay tributepublished at 13:46
13:46
Image source, PA MediaA crew from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has also visited the scene this morning to lay flowers.
Around a dozen firefighters paid tribute with a message reading: "Thinking of everyone affected".
Image source, PA MediaSouthport's new MP urges against speculation onlinepublished at 13:34
13:34
Image source, PA MediaThe newly-elected MP for Southport, Patrick Hurley, praises the community organisations that have "stepped up to the plate", including a local football club opening their function rooms to host drop-in support services.
"There will be a time for analysis and a more methodical approach, but right now the community needs to take a breath and make sure we know collectively how to cope with such a shocking incident," he tells Radio 5 Live.
Hurley is urging people not to speculate online, saying: "It's not what the community, town or families affected need."
