The nation is “united in shock and grief”, the Home Secretary said on Tuesday, as tearful mourners gathered for a vigil for three girls stabbed to death during a dance class in Southport.
The three victims killed in the mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift themed children’s dance class have been named as six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.
The young children were killed during a “horror movie” attack after a knife-man burst into the family-friendly event in Hart Street at roughly 11.50am on Monday.
The remaining children are continuing to receive treatment with two remaining in critical care but in a stable condition. Two adults also remain critically injured, paramedics said.
Mourners gathered on Tuesday evening for a vigil, as Yvette Cooper told the Commons: “What should have been a joyful start of the summer turned into an unbelievable tragedy.
“The whole house and the whole country is united in shock and grief and share our thoughts and prayers and deepest condolences to everybody affected by these terrible events.”
Ms Cooper, who was among those laying flowers at the scene earlier, said the police investigation will pursue "any contact the suspect may or may not have had with different agencies" before the mass stabbing.
She reflected on the words of a paramedic who described the horrors of the scene but also of the pride they felt in their colleagues and the community who worked together to save lives.
"That is what we keep in our hearts as we think of Southport, as we think of the grieving families and, most of all, our thoughts are with the little children and we keep them in our prayers tonight,” she said.
Singer Taylor Swift said the “horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously” after she heard about the shocking assault in the seaside town near Liverpool.
Among the hundreds laying tributes at the scene was Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who placed a wreath of pink and white flowers and stood momentarily in silence.
He told media during the visit that the attack "touches a nerve" with the whole country, and sent his condolences to the families “who are going through such pain and grief”.
The wreath left by the Prime Minister said: “To the victims, families and people of Southport, our hearts are broken, there are no words for such profound loss. The nation's thoughts are with you."
However, he was met with some anger, with more than one person shouting: “How many more Starmer? When are you going to do something?"
Later on Tuesday, a large crowd gathered outside a mosque in the town amid heightened tensions following the attack.
Police riot vans and officers were standing guard outside the building, amid chants of "No surrender!" and "English till I die!" from sections of the crowd. Some officers appeared to have been pelted with bottles and stones.
Ministers have urged that the police be allowed to carry on their investigation without social media speculation about the attack.
Alice’s devastated loved ones said their princess had been taken by a "despicable human being" after she died of her injuries in hospital in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
In a tribute issued through Merseyside Police, Bebe King’s family 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.”
And the family of Alice Aguiar said: “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.”
Merseyside Police said the victim’s families are being supported by specialist officers and they have asked that their privacy is respected.
Alice’s relative Carina Aguiar posted a photo of a black ribbon on her Facebook alongside Alice’s name after writing in an emotional tribute: “Princess Alice.
“In this moment of great pain my soul hurts, my body hurts, my mind hurts.
“I have a lump in my throat.
“You were just an innocent child, a happy smiley girl with a bright life ahead of you which a despicable human being took away from you, without pity, for no reason.
“Look after your mum and dad who are suffering, who are desolate and broken. Fly high our little star. I love you.”
Another family friend, Henrique Drummond, wrote on social media in a direct message to Alice’s parents: “David Aguiar, Alexandra Aguiar. Life is so cruel that an animal takes the life of children, especially our Alice. Lots of strength in these extremely difficult moments.”
A GoFundMe page set up to raise money for Alice’s family described the attack as “horrific”.
The fundraiser which was created by members of staff from a nearby care home, Benridge Care Homes and Good Companions, said: “Alice is the daughter of one of our team here and she has been a part of the Good Companions family since she was a baby, joining in with many of our activities and events with our families and staff.
“Benridge Care Group would like to help support the family, so we kindly request donations towards costs that the family will be faced with.”
Dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, is reported to be fighting for her life after a knifeman burst into the family-friendly event in Hart Street at roughly 11.50am on Monday.
Three other children suffered stab wounds but are not in critical condition, police confirmed.
A 17-year-old continues to be quizzed by police after he was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
In a social media post, Swift wrote: “The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I’m just completely in shock. 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.”
Merseyside Police said adults at the event had bravely attempted to prevent the children from being attacked, with two of those critically injured.
Police said they are not treating the incident as terror-related but the motive “remains unclear”.
At the scene, flowers and teddies had been left by the police cordon in Hart Street.
One message in a “Thinking Of You” card said “thoughts and prayers” are with those affected and was signed: “Love – Southport.”
Another said: “Fly high with angels little ones.”
Those injured in the incident were taken to nearby major hospitals including Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
The children’s hospital quickly declared a major incident on Monday and asked parents to only bring their children to the emergency department if it is urgent.
Over £100,000 has been raised by Taylor Swift fans to help raise money for the families affected by the knife attack.
A fundraiser set up in the hours after the event said: “We are working with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to help raise money for the families affected by the tragedy in Southport, and raising funeral funds for the two young swifties who have tragically passed.
“Every donation through this link goes directly to the verified charity below, which will in turn help make a difference to those impacted in a time of great sadness.”
Cristina Jones, who started the JustGiving page, told the PA news agency: “I firmly believe there’s nothing we can do to make the families feel better because of what they’re going through right now, but if we’ve taken some sort of burden from them, financial or whatever, it’s nice to know that we’ve done what we can do.”
Ms Jones, from Trowbridge in Wiltshire, said it was “really lovely” to see US singer Swift share a statement on Instagram paying tribute to the victims, adding: “She’s bringing it to attention and letting the families know she’s well aware and is thinking of them.”
The Taylor Swift themed event was advertised as a dance and yoga workshop as well as bracelet-making, with social media posts promoting the event as “open to children in Year 2 to Year 6”.
The class, held at the Hart Space in Hart Street, was run by a Southport-based business called Enlighten, which describes its workshops as “providing yoga, mindfulness, breathwork, meditation and relaxation for children” in the seaside town.
The King was also among those sending his condolences after the horror stabbing, saying his “prayers and deepest sympathies" were with the families affected.
“My wife and I have been profoundly shocked to hear of the utterly horrific incident in Southport today,” he said.
"We send our most heartfelt condolences, prayers and deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who have so tragically lost their lives, and to all those affected by this truly appalling attack.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales said in a joint statement “as parents, we cannot begin to imagine what the families, friends and loved ones of those killed and injured in Southport today are going through.
"We send our love, thoughts and prayers to all those involved in this horrid and heinous attack.”
