Away from the fury, the violence and the speculation that has engulfed Southport, one thing matters more than all else: three small girls were killed this week. They were aged six, seven and nine. Eight more children were injured, and two adults. They went out on Monday morning to a Taylor Swift-themed dance event, with the whole of summer and their lives stretched out ahead of them. Then there was a horrific knife attack.
The families and friends of those three girls, and of the others who were left injured and traumatised, face a long period of grief and trauma. Yet, rather than being allowed to heal, the suffering of a small seaside town has been exploited by chancers, grievance merchants and the far right. Using social media and other internet platforms, they spread misinformation and pet theories and flyers, calling on others to come to Southport. A name for the attacker was circulated, along with allegations of motive. “Mask up,” the messages advised, with an address of where to meet and a map showing a mosque nearby.
