Latest news with #BebeKing
Western Telegraph
14 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
Southport falls silent to honour attack victims on first anniversary
A three-minute silence was held at 3pm on Tuesday, to mark a year since Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, died after Axel Rudakubana launched his attack at the Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the Merseyside town. No vigil was planned to mark the occasion by Sefton Council, who said they had been guided by the wishes of the family, but a crowd gathered in the Town Hall Gardens to observe the silence. Those sitting on benches stood as the clock on the Atkinson arts centre chimed 3pm. One child blew bubbles as the silence was observed, before people applauded and came forward with single pink roses which were left in a designated area in the corner of the gardens. Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar were killed in the atrocity (Merseyside Police/PA) The area was the location for a vigil in the wake of the attack last year and is due to be transformed into a legacy garden in memory of those who died. Members of the public had been encouraged to donate to causes, including those set up in the victims' names, in lieu of tributes, but people began leaving flowers on Tuesday morning. Candles and a teddy bear were also left and friendship bracelets were hung between trees. Colourful windmills and rocks painted with Elsie, Alice and Bebe's names on them were placed in a flowerbed. A year has passed since the devastating events in Southport. Our thoughts remain with the families of Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe – and all those affected. We will never forget. — Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) July 29, 2025 Notices nearby directed people to the Southport Together section of the council's website to access support. The notices said: 'The events which took place in Southport in July 2024 were truly shocking and members of our communities continue to be affected by what happened.' Flags were flown at half mast on the town halls in Southport and Liverpool. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the nation stood with the families of the three victims. In a post on X, he said: 'We stand together in grief, in honour of the memory of those wonderful children, and in admiration of the families who have shown strength beyond words. Today we remember Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, those injured and all those who ran towards danger to help last summer. The bravery of the families and all those affected is truly incredible and awe inspiring. Everyone in Southport will have you… — Mike Prendergast (@MikePrendUK) July 29, 2025 'We stand with all the children and adults who still bear the physical and mental scars of that day – and in awe of those who risked their lives to help. 'And we stand with the people of Southport, who have shown Britain the meaning of community. 'The nation wants to put its arms around you all. We will come together today to show our sorrow and solidarity. But also to show our determination to uphold the true legacy of Bebe, Alice and Elsie – one of joy, kindness and love.' Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the lives of the 'three innocent young girls' were 'extinguished in an act of pure evil'. One year on, the whole nation stands with the families of Bebe, Alice and Elsie. We stand together in grief, in honour of the memory of those wonderful children, and in admiration of the families who have shown strength beyond words. We stand with all the children and adults… — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 29, 2025 In a post on X, she said: 'We honour the memories of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar. 'Their families, and those that survived, carry unimaginable grief and trauma. 'We owe it to them, the people of Southport and communities across the country to demand justice and learn the painful lessons of state failure to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.' One year on from the brutal murders in Southport, today we remember the three innocent young girls whose lives were extinguished in an act of pure evil. We honour the memories of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice daSilva Aguiar. Their families, and those that survived,… — Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) July 29, 2025 Deputy leader of Sefton Council Paulette Lappin said the community was looking to move forward in a positive way. She told the PA news agency: 'It still remains beyond belief, even though I know it to be true, and so it's just very sad. 'From sadness, we hope to bring goodness and that's all we can do.'
Daily Mirror
19 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Southport murders one year on from girls' brave fight to 'most dangerous' prisoner
As Southport marks one year since the tragic murders of Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, the Mirror takes a look at the events that have unfolded over the past 12 months On July 29, 2024, a group of innocent children attended a Taylor Swift dance workshop in the seaside town of Southport for what should have been a joyful morning. Tragically, three of them would never return. Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were murdered by twisted killer Axel Rudakubana, who went on a killing frenzy at The Hart Space community studio as the sold-out event was just wrapping up. Ten others were injured, the majority of whom were children. Today, a three-minute silence will be held at 3pm, as the people of Southport vow not to 'allow evil to define' them one year on from the devastation. Last year, flowers were laid outside of Southport Town Hall, a reminder of the bright young lives that were so cruelly taken. Now, plans are also in place for the creation of legacy gardens, which will serve as a more permanent tribute to Bebe, Elsie, and Alice. Deputy leader of Sefton Council, Paulette Lappin, said: 'It will be designed for the enjoyment and the fun of children, so that all children can come and they can all play in here. That's what we have to remember, that it is an absolutely terrible tragedy, but we cannot allow evil to define us.' Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated that the nation will come together today "to show our sorrow and solidarity" for "the people of Southport, who have shown Britain the meaning of community." Here, the Mirror takes a look at the harrowing year that has passed since the killings that shocked the country, as the community of Southport and the victims' families bravely adapt to the unwelcome new life forced upon them. Shock plea In January of this year, on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court, Rudakubana, who was arrested at the scene, pleaded guilty to all 16 offences he faced. These charges included the murders of the three little girls, as well as the attempted murders of eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, class instructor Leanne Lucas, and businessman John Hayes. Rudakubana, who was 17 years old at the time of his attack, also pleaded guilty to possessing a knife on the date of the killings, producing the biological toxin ricin, and possessing information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism. As was anticipated, Cardiff-born Rudakubana did not receive a whole-life order, a measure which is usually only imposed on criminals aged 21 or over. Instead, the teenager was given a life sentence, of which he must serve a minimum of 52 years. The now 18-year-old killer repeatedly disrupted sentencing proceedings by shouting in court, at one point screaming at the judge and demanding to see a paramedic. Those in court were also forced to wait 50 minutes before cowardly Rudakubana finally made his way to the dock, where he buried his head between his knees. At sentencing, Judge Mr Justice Goose stated: "I consider it is likely at this time that he will never be released" for what he described as "the most extreme, shocking and exceptionally serious crime.' Describing the attack as "the most extreme, shocking and exceptionally serious crime", the judge asserted that Rudakubana had 'wanted to try and carry out mass murder of innocent, happy young girls. It was such extreme violence… it is difficult to comprehend why it was done." He added: 'I am sure Rudakubana had the settled determination to carry out these offences and had he been able to, he would have killed each and every child – all 26 of them.' Mum jailed In the aftermath of the tragedy, there was widespread disruption and rioting across the country, after misinformation about the killer's identity sparked anti-immigration protests. As the chaos unfolded, the wife of a Conservative councillor was arrested and handed a 31-month prison sentence after writing a social media post which incited racial hatred online. In a message shared via X, Lucy Connolly wrote: 'Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f*****g hotels full of the b******s for all I care… if that makes me racist so be it.' The post was viewed 310,000 times in just three and a half hours before Connolly deleted it. She was arrested on August 6, with officers discovering other messages containing racist remarks after seizing her phone. In October, Connolly was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court after pleading guilty to a charge of inciting racial hatred. In May of this year, Connolly's bid to have her sentence dismissed by Lord Justice Holroyde, Mr Justice Goss, and Mr Justice Sheldon at London's Court of Appeal. In his written judgment, Lord Justice Holroyde, said: 'There is no arguable basis on which it could be said that the sentence imposed by the judge was manifestly excessive. The application for leave to appeal against sentence therefore fails and is refused.' He went on to state that the principal ground of appeal 'was substantially based on a version of events put forward by the applicant which we have rejected'. Connolly, 41, previously told of how she had not intended the post to incite violence. Giving evidence from HMP Drake Hall in Eccleshall, Staffordshire, the former childminder said that she'd been 'really angry, really upset' and 'distressed that those children had died' as she knew how the parents would have felt. Connolly, who is the wife of former Tory West Northamptonshire district councillor Raymond Connolly, said: 'Those parents still have to live a life of grief. It sends me into a state of anxiety, and I worry about my children.' The court heard how, around 14 years ago, Connolly's own son had died tragically, with the news of the murders bringing back a resurgence of her anxieties over this. Adam King, who represented Connolly, asked his client if she'd intended for anyone to set fire to asylum hotels, or 'murder any politicians'. She responded: 'Absolutely not.' Connolly also claimed that during discussions with her barrister at the Crown Court, she had not understood that by pleading guilty, she was accepting that she had intended to incite violence. Girls' brave fight Back in April, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper formally launched a two-phase statutory public inquiry into the murders, with the first phase intended to 'thoroughly investigate' the circumstances surrounding the attack. This first phase, which began at Liverpool Town Hall earlier this month, focuses on issues around policing, the criminal justice system, and the multiple agencies involved with Rudakubana, after it emerged the depraved murderer had referred to the Government's Prevent scheme on three occasions, only for the cases to be closed. The inquiry, held at Liverpool Town Hall, heard evidence from families of the children who survived the attack, including the parents of a girl who can only be identified as 'C3'. She was seriously injured in Axel Rudakubana's attack in Southport but survived. Her father, who also cannot be identified, read the statement from the witness box in Liverpool Town Hall. He described Rudakubana, who he did not name, as a 'coward' - and said his daughter is 'our hero'. Reading the joint statement with his wife by his side, he said she was stabbed from behind 'by a coward she didn't even see'. The mother of a girl known as 'C1' told how her daughter escaped the initial attack but was then dragged back into the building by Rudakubana. 'That is how she became known in this nightmare - the girl that was dragged back in,' she said. 'She is so much more than that moment on CCTV. Those moments carried so much courage and determination to survive, that the CCTV footage does not tell us.' C1 suffered 33 stab wounds and underwent two life-saving operations in hospital. Her mother said: 'The damage was catastrophic. The hours and days that followed the attack were a living hell. Her mother said the most devastating thing to come to terms with was that there were 'no adults to help' her daughter. 'She was only supported by other children,' she said. 'The courage and strength she found leaves me crushed, but in complete awe. 'I would like to say that I don't for a moment doubt that the actions of the teachers there that day saved lives. They escaped to call the police and flag down help, they shielded other children. I am grateful for what they did for those girls. 'But the uncomfortable and often unspoken truth of our own reality is that, when the adults left in those first moments, our daughter had to save herself. It is these untold stories of remarkable strength and bravery that are missing when we have heard other accounts of this day. 'I think it is vitally important that those girls are now heard. She had fought like hell to get herself out of that building, twice, and that reality is painful. Our children fought alone, they shielded each other, comforted each other, and helped each other and that must be remembered.' She described in detail how her daughter battled to save her life and the lives of others inside the building. 'She tells me that she had tried to find a way out,' she said. 'There was only one way to safety, to find her dad and that was down the stairs. 'She tells us how the door was narrow, and everyone was trying to push through. She describes it as a stampede. In the chaos she was knocked over and found herself trapped and huddled with two other children at the top of the stairs. 'She talks quietly of how she put her arms around the girls as he began to attack them. She tells me with such clarity that a moment came where one of the girls was able to get up. She put the girl's hand on the handrail and told her to go — to get down the stairs - and she did. 'The attack continued, she was still holding another girl, 'I crouched over the top of her', she says. 'I told her it would be okay'. She recalls this with such purpose and determination, like it was her responsibility. 'It happened so fast, but I helped them, I'm glad I could help them, mum', she tells me. 'She pulled herself up on the middle landing and tells me how she yelled for the other girl to follow her. But he started coming after her and she had to run. She tells me how she couldn't breathe, and things were getting fuzzy. She had, we believe, about five or six stab wounds by this point. 'Somehow, she emerges from the building and we see her, for a brief moment on CCTV, escaping, finding help, showing so much strength. But her arm is badly injured and it's trailing behind, and he grabs it. In a flash of struggle, she's gone again. For eleven seconds she is out of sight. 'And then there she is again. She has stood up after enduring another attack of more than twenty stab wounds to her back and shoulders. She stumbles outside to the windows reaching for help. She eventually falls and soon after is carried to safety. She may be a survivor of this attack, but she is still trying to survive this, every single day." The inquiry will next move on to a second phase, which will look at the wider issue of young people being drawn into extreme violence. This ongoing inquiry is being chaired by former vice-president of the Court of Appeal, Sir Adrian Fulford, who previously sentenced Sarah Everard's killer, Wayne Couzens, to a whole-life term. On July 16, Chris Walker, director of law firm Bond Turner, which represents Southport victims' families, called upon the public inquiry to establish the 'key decisions' that were made in Rudakubana's case. This followed a report by interim Prevent commissioner Lord Anderson, which found that lessons 'must continue to be learned' from the failure to stop Rudakubana and, separately, Ali Harbi Ali, who murdered MP Sir David Amess in 2021. Mr Walker stated: 'We note the findings of the report pointing to the failings of Prevent in the Southport case, in particular that referrals to other agencies who could have intervened with the defendant were not followed through with. Given the disturbing and violent behaviour exhibited, opportunities to intervene were then lost. 'We now turn to the inquiry in establishing the key decisions that were made in this case, who made them and how, if they had not been made, would the results have been different. 'We have been clear from the start of the inquiry process that, as representatives of the bereaved families, real change needs to come in order to prevent other families going through what my clients face. 'Lord Anderson is right that lessons must be learned and we call upon the Government and authorities to ensure they do more than simply paying lip service. We now need time to digest the recommendations of the report alongside our clients.' 'Most dangerous prisoner' Even behind bars, Rudakubana is continuing to demonstrate violent behaviour. In May, it was reported that the inmate had allegedly attacked a prison officer by throwing boiling water over them. Earlier this month, it was reported that Rudakubana had allegedly levelled further threats at staff at HMP Belmarsh, forcing them to take measures only applied to the "most dangerous" inmates. Speaking with The Sun, a source claimed that prison staff are living in fear that Rudakubana - who "has nothing to lose" - could attack, while several threats have allegedly been noted. They alleged: "Threats are noted on the system if a prisoner says things like, 'I will kill you' or 'I will smash your face'. Notes have been kept about Rudakubana - and they all point to him being the most dangerous prisoner in Britain." This source also claimed that Rudakubana may only be allowed out of his cell during a "five-man unlock", whereby five members of staff equipped with SWAT equipment are on hand to ensure nobody gets hurt. This "incredibly rare" was reportedly last used with notorious inmate Charles Bronson. Despicable Rudakubana has allegedly also been banned from HMP Belmarsh's IT systems, including the intranet prisoners use to order canteen food and partake in educational courses. The source continued: "It just shows how dangerous he is. And it is even more rare for someone to be banned from all IT and computer systems. That happens only to the most dangerous terrorists in the system. 'Inmates cannot go online, but they do things like order from the canteen and education courses on the intranet-style system. But even that is seen as too dangerous for Rudakubabana. He is completely unrepentant and as far from being rehabilitated as you can get.' PM's message of solidarity Taking to social media platform X this morning (Tuesday, July 29), Sir Keir Starmer wrote: "One year on, the whole nation stands with the families of Bebe, Alice, and Elsie. "We stand together in grief, in honour of the memory of those wonderful children, and in admiration of the families who have shown strength beyond words. We stand with all the children and adults who still bear the physical and mental scars of that day - and in awe of those who risked their lives to help. "And we stand with the people of Southport, who have shown Britain the meaning of community. The nation wants to put its arms around you all. We will come together today to show our sorrow and solidarity. But also to show our determination to uphold the true legacy of Bebe, Alice, and Elsie - one of joy, kindness, and love." Meanwhile, in her own X post, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch stated that the lives of the "three innocent young girls" were "extinguished in an act of pure evil". Ms Badenoch said: "We honour the memories of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice da Silva Aguiar. "Their families, and those that survived, carry unimaginable grief and trauma. We owe it to them, the people of Southport and communities across the country, to demand justice and learn the painful lessons of state failure to ensure nothing like this ever happens again." Those wishing to pay their respects have been asked not to leave flowers at the crime scene or at the girls' schools. Instead, it's been suggested that members of the public could consider making donations to local causes, including funds set up in the names of the victims, and the Southport Strong Together Appeal, established last year to support those affected. Although no large vigil will be held, churches and community centres will be open for anyone looking for support or a quiet space for reflection on what will be a difficult day for many. According to deputy leader of Sefton Council Paulette Lappin, plans for today have been guided by families, who had their "thoughts, compassion and incredible respect".
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Country stands with families of Southport victims, Prime Minister says
The country will come together to show 'sorrow and solidarity' a year after the Southport attack, the Prime Minister has said. Three-minutes silence will be held in the Merseyside town at 3pm on Tuesday to mark a year since Axel Rudakubana launched his attack on a Taylor Swift-themed dance class and murdered Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven. In the days following the attack, during which he also attempted to kill eight other children and two adults, violent disorder broke out in the seaside town and across the country. Writing on X on Tuesday morning, Sir Keir Starmer said: 'One year on, the whole nation stands with the families of Bebe, Alice and Elsie. 'We stand together in grief, in honour of the memory of those wonderful children, and in admiration of the families who have shown strength beyond words. 'We stand with all the children and adults who still bear the physical and mental scars of that day – and in awe of those who risked their lives to help. 'And we stand with the people of Southport, who have shown Britain the meaning of community. 'The nation wants to put its arms around you all. We will come together today to show our sorrow and solidarity. But also to show our determination to uphold the true legacy of Bebe, Alice and Elsie – one of joy, kindness and love.' Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the lives of the 'three innocent young girls' were 'extinguished in an act of pure evil'. In a post on X, she said: 'We honour the memories of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar. 'Their families, and those that survived, carry unimaginable grief and trauma. 'We owe it to them, the people of Southport and communities across the country to demand justice and learn the painful lessons of state failure to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.' People have been asked not to leave flowers at the scene or at the schools the girls attended as the town continues to rebuild after the tragedy. Deputy leader of Sefton Council Paulette Lappin said the community was looking to move forward in a positive way. She told the PA news agency: 'It still remains beyond belief, even though I know it to be true, and so it's just very sad. 'From sadness, we hope to bring goodness and that's all we can do.' The area outside Southport Town Hall, where hundreds laid floral tributes and a vigil was held last year, is due to be transformed into legacy gardens, in memory of those who lost their lives. Ms Lappin said: 'It will be designed for the enjoyment and the fun of children, so that all children can come and they can all play in here. 'That's what we have to remember, that it is an absolutely terrible tragedy, but we cannot allow evil to define us.' A new playground is also being built at Churchtown Primary School, in memory of Alice and Bebe, who were both pupils. Members of the public are being asked to consider making donations to local causes – including funds set up in the names of the victims of the attack and the Southport Strong Together Appeal, which was established last year to support those affected. No large vigil will be held but churches and community centres will be open for those looking for support or space for quiet reflection. Ms Lappin said plans for the day were guided by the families, who had their 'thoughts, compassion and incredible respect'.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
One year on, this is how the Southport attack has changed Britain
A year ago today, 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana walked into the Hart Space dance studio in Meols Cop, Southport, where 26 children were midway through a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. In a 12-minute knife rampage, Rudakubana murdered three girls, Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and attempted to murder many others. In January, Rudakubana was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 52 years. While the survivors and the families of the victims try to rebuild their lives, 12 months on from Rudakubana's attack, its effects continue to reverberate around Britain. The days after the attack provided a second tragedy. Initially, police stated only that a man 'born in Cardiff' had been arrested. As false rumours that the killer was in fact a Muslim asylum seeker spread quickly online, a wave of public disorder was unleashed in Southport and beyond. Emotions stirred up by the nature of the killings combined with online misinformation and a lack of clarity from authorities to provoke widespread rioting. This was not just in Southport, where 50 police officers were injured, but all over the country: London, Belfast, Burnley. A judge eventually named Rudakubana, the Cardiff-born son of Rwandan immigrants, who had moved to the UK in 2002, but the fuse had been lit. In Tamworth, rioters attacked police and attempted to set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers. Filipino nurses were attacked in Sunderland. In Stoke-on-Trent, 94 people were arrested. In total, more than 1,800 were arrested, many sentenced summarily as Keir Starmer sought to restore the impression of order. In January, Andrew McIntyre was jailed for seven and a half years for using an account called 'Southport Wake Up' to encourage disorder around July 30. The Southport attack was a crime of such enormity, and the scale of fallout so large, that it has had ramifications far beyond the immediate victims and surrounding area. Policing, sentencing guidelines, immigration, knife laws, free speech, the right to protest: all have been in the spotlight since last July. Ministers promised that things would change. In January, when the Home Office announced a public inquiry into the killings, the prime minister said that Southport must be a 'line in the sand'. Six months on from that statement, it has not proved so. Fractures exposed by Southport and its aftermath are far from healed. Recent protests outside an asylum hotel in Epping Forest and a supposed asylum hotel in Canary Wharf are obvious examples of stories that can be traced directly back to Southport. But the attack's macabre echoes can be heard whenever an online rumour spreads before authorities can react, or someone is arrested for a social media post, or a peaceful protest threatens to spill over into something more sinister. A town changed for ever In Southport, reaction to the attack was grief and fury. Thousands of locals held a vigil, laying flowers and clutching pink ribbons. As the outpouring gave way to rage, the recently elected Labour MP for Southport, Patrick Hurley, told journalists the town was 'united to say the atrocity on Monday, which is the worst in living memory in the town, and also the riots on Tuesday night, are not the Southport we know and love'. The mosque still has shutters over its windows. Child-focused businesses report lower levels of trade. In the aftermath of the attacks, many other youth clubs and classes reviewed their safety procedures, some cancelling them altogether. But in other ways the town is slowly putting itself back together. In an interview earlier this year, Marion Atkinson, the Sefton council leader, said Southport would 'not let one person's actions break us apart'. A new £10m garden is being built in the centre of town, a 'legacy' rather than a memorial. 'I don't think we can move on from what happens,' she tells The Telegraph. 'Moving forward, is how I would say things are going. Our community's response was bravery, compassion, solidarity, and we keep that in our hearts as we go forward. People are still grieving; the most important thing is to remain as supportive as we can.' The victims' families, supported by Sefton council, asked that there be no large-scale vigils or flower-laying to mark the anniversary. 'This period is incredibly hard for the families of Alice, Bebe and Elsie and all of those children and adults injured or who suffered lifelong psychological impact of witnessing the attack, and we acknowledge the huge impact on their lives too,' it said in an open letter. Instead it urged people to donate to local causes. 'While it showed the worst, it also showed the best of us, and it definitely grew our community together,' says Atkinson. 'We have to keep on looking after each other.' More calls for knife control Rudakubana used a knife he had bought on Amazon when he was 17, despite it being illegal to sell knives to under-18s. In September 2024, six weeks after the killings, Starmer and Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, launched the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, with the actor Idris Elba as its figurehead. So-called zombie knives, which are serrated to make wounds more difficult to treat, were banned on September 24. Ninja swords will be banned this Friday, August 1. Announcing a new Crime and Policing Bill earlier this year, Starmer said that it 'remains shockingly easy for our children to get their hands on deadly knives', adding that 'the lessons of [the Southport] case could not be clearer'. Patrick Green, the chief executive of the Ben Kinsella Trust, a knife crime charity, says: 'One of the issues Southport raises is how easy it was for the perpetrator to get hold of knives. It's deeply concerning because we know it's not an isolated incident. Recent legislation is a step in the right direction but much more needs to be done. It has never been easier for an under-18 to buy a knife than it is at the moment.' The legislation includes measures to raise the maximum sentence for selling knives to children from six months to two years, and make tech executives personally liable if illegal weapons were listed on their site. Those trying to buy knives online would be required to submit two types of identification. While the law restricts ninja swords and zombie knives, however, would-be attackers can still easily get hold of kitchen knives. In May, Leanne Lucas, a dance teacher who survived the attack, launched Let's Be Blunt, a campaign to have pointed tips on kitchen knives replaced by blunt ones. 'As a consumer you have a choice,' Green says. 'You don't have to buy a pointed knife. Our kitchens are an armoury. Rounded knives perform the kitchen function as well if not better than a pointed knife. As consumers we all have a part to play.' The implications for free speech In the months after the attacks, police forces around the country clamped down on online speech. Southport did not begin the trend for policing social media, but it accelerated it. The most famous case was that of Lucy Connolly. In July 2024, during the frenzy of online speculation about the identity of the attacker, in which it was thought it might be an illegal immigrant, Connolly, then a 41-year-old childminder from Northampton, wrote a 51-word post on X: 'Mass deportation now. Set fire to all the f---ing hotels full of the bastards for all I care. While you're at it, take the treacherous government and politicians with them. I feel physically sick knowing what these families will now have to endure. If that makes me racist, so be it.' She deleted the post less than four hours later, but by then, it had been seen more than 310,000 times. In October, Connolly was given a 31-month jail sentence after admitting inciting racial hatred. Her case has become a flashpoint for conversations about free speech in the UK. Stephen O'Grady, an officer with the Free Speech Union, said the case was 'emblematic of wider concerns' with regard to police interest in online activity. Police make an average of around 30 arrests per day for online posts. In November 2024, Essex Police visited Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson's home over a post on X about the Israel-Hamas war which incited racial hatred. Coming in and around a United States presidential election in which freedom of speech was a contested topic, particularly by Elon Musk, such cases were used as evidence that the UK – and Europe – was far behind the US on free speech. JD Vance, Donald Trump's vice-president, has repeatedly attacked Europe for its limitations on freedom of speech. In a scathing speech to the Munich Security Conference in February, Vance made reference to the case of Adam Smith-Connor, who was jailed for praying outside an abortion clinic, and argued that 'the basic liberties of religious Britons, in particular' were under threat. In May, Trump said he was 'monitoring' the Connolly case. As high-profile police investigations into the music acts Kneecap and Bob Vylan have shown, it is not only during riots that police are using their new powers, but day-to-day. This week, it was reported that the police are planning to set up a new elite unit, the National Internet Intelligence Investigations team, to help police online posts. The unit, proposed in a letter to MPs by the policing minister, Diana Johnson, as part of the response to Southport, would offer 'enhanced capacity to monitor and respond to social media at the national level'. Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, said the proposal was 'sinister, dangerous and must be fought', and that it was 'the beginning of the state controlling free speech'. Public protests tipping into riots The eruption of public violence in late July and early August last year saw the most damaging public protests since the riots of 2011. They showed how difficult it can be for the authorities, bound by restrictions on what can and can't be said, to keep pace in the internet era, when a lie can travel the world in seconds. The police were not legally allowed to name Rudakubana, as he was under 18. A local parent, Eddie Murray, posted on LinkedIn claiming a 'migrant' was responsible for the attack, which was quickly reshared by prominent Right-wing accounts. To try to quell the violence, by August 1, a judge had removed the reporting restrictions, arguing that the 'idiotic rioting' made it in the public interest for the killer to be named. Dame Melanie Dawes, the Ofcom chief executive, wrote: 'Posts about the Southport incident and subsequent events from high-profile accounts reached millions of users, demonstrating the role that virality and algorithmic recommendations can play in driving divisive narratives in a crisis period.' Unlike other comparable protests, the riots after Southport were not organised by one group but rather by the coming together of many different groups, fuelled by misinformation. They led to counterprotests, too, by anti-racist groups. In a recent paper, John Drury, a professor of social psychology at the University of Sussex, argued that the Southport protests had more in common with the 'race' riots in Notting Hill and Nottingham in 1958 than with the riots of 2011. Rather than protests by minorities against authority, the protests in response to Southport were more like 'some kind of direct action' and were more attacks than traditional protests. The recent charged protests in Epping Forest and Canary Wharf follow the example of Southport: information spreads online, harnessed by disparate Right-wing groups, who descend on the target location. There, they are often met by counterprotesters. Georgina Laming, the campaigns and communications director of Hope not Hate, believes the far Right has been emboldened by the killings and their violent aftermath. 'Those more extreme protests have emboldened people to share more racist views than they would have before,' she says. 'It has had a knock-on effect of more persistent everyday racism. I don't think we are prepared for another set of riots. It's essential the police and Government learn the lessons.' Policing under renewed scrutiny One of the most shocking revelations in the case was that Rudakubana's teachers had warned the Prevent counterterrorism scheme three times that he was obsessed with violence. On each occasion, his case was closed because he did not have a terrorist motive. In a major review of Prevent released earlier this month, Lord David Anderson KC argued that it could have intervened and possibly stopped Rudakubana before he had become violent. 'It's a failure of the system,' Lord Anderson said, adding that 'it has to be made clear that these so-called violence-fascinated individuals do fall within its scope'. In January, Yvette Cooper argued that Southport had been failed by the police, the courts and Prevent. Widespread changes to Prevent have been announced, including new referral thresholds, improved training and an independent commissioner to act better on warning signs. The Government has also re-prioritised community-based policing and services as a counterbalance to online misinformation. In January, the Government announced another £200m for local policing. A report about the attacks by Cetas, the Centre for Emerging Technology and Security, said that because trust in official sources was so low, unofficial sources could help dispel false narratives. 'There are quite low levels of trust and confidence in government and law enforcement,' said Sam Stockwell, a co-author of the study. 'So if you can get non-government-affiliated sources sharing the same kind of information and facts, you are more likely to be able to resonate and engage with wider audiences.' Concerns about knife crime, free speech, immigration, protest and children's safety did not begin with Southport. The attack was so terrible that it exposed cracks that were already growing. Arguably no other single crime in recent memory has had such a disastrous effect on public order. The chaos after the attack gave politicians, such as Nigel Farage, space to make political hay with Southport. Ultimately, Southport undermined faith in the authorities and became a rallying cry for the far Right. For them, Southport was evidence of the need for tougher policing and sentencing. Despite Rudakubana being born in the UK, it also became a flashpoint for concerns about migration. For those on the Left, the response to Southport was evidence of far-Right opportunism in using a tragedy to advance its arguments, on immigration, for example, regardless of the truth of the events. The murders may have united Southport in grief and solidarity, but it is far from clear that it has had such a potent effect on the country at large. A year on, the long-term effects of Southport are only just becoming clear.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
How Southport is trying to heal, one year on from attack
A year ago, Southport's world changed forever. Three young girls - Bebe King, Alice Aguiar and Elsie Dot Stancombe - died in a horrific attack which shocked the nation and left the seaside resort the aftermath, the town has wrapped its arms around the families of the girls and the other children and adults injured, while also trying to not let the attack define path back to something like normality has been a long and hard one. In the Old Bakehouse Coffee Shop in the town centre, chatter hums above the clatter of cups and cutlery."We have to accept what's happened and that's the next part of the healing, and that's hard," says owner Maz Langshaw. Southport is a small town, but it is an even smaller community. Everyone seems to know someone who was affected by the events that coffee shop, which opened recently, sits between Lord Street, Southport's famous Victorian main street, and Hart Street, the scene of last July's Maxwell sips of coffee, tears filling her eyes."I know some of the girls who were affected. They have been beacons of light. It's just amazing. Everyone's wrapped around them like a big blanket," she says.A short distance away from Old Bakehouse is Silcocks - a family run amusement park which has been owned by the same family for name is on numerous shop fronts. "We're a small town with a huge heart," says operations director Serena Silcock-Prince."Everyone's seen that now. We really support each other. There's nowhere like Southport."You absolutely cannot break a community like this." Last month, the government announced funding to repair Southport Pier. It followed a commitment to the bereaved parents to build a community space outside the town hall. "The families came back from Downing Street and said look we've come back with £10m as our thank you to the town," Andrew Brown from Stand Up for Southport says."The town should be saying thank you to them. They're remarkable people."Their daughters – Alice Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Bebe King – loved to dance. They adored Taylor Swift. That is why they attended the summer holiday event on Hart Street last year. "We want the kids to dance – we want people to laugh – we definitely want the investment."We just want it to be a happy, safe welcoming place like it was before," says Maz.A Public Inquiry into the attacks is due to resume in although the conversation will move on, what happened in Southport on 29 July 2024 will never be forgotten. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
