Mersey Reporter - #Merseybites #News

ON Monday, 29 July 2024 3 innocent girls:- Bebe King aged 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe aged 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar aged 9, all lost their lives at a Taylor Swift themed dance and yoga event. 9 others were also injured and were in critical condition following the mass stabbing.

Over that day and the following week, hundreds of flowers and balloons began to be left at the crime sense and in front of The Atkinson Arts Centre, where the town held 2 vigils. This footage shows some of the flowers, toys, balloons, and chalk drawings that had been left outside The Atkinson, by family and friends of those affected by the attack, along with members of the local community.

Alder Hey Children's Hospital has confirmed that all children admitted to its site with injuries linked to the attack have now been safely discharged. It said in a statement the Hospital has told the media that:- "We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in responding to the incident or caring for anyone affected by it, especially our colleagues in the NHS, Merseyside Police, and North West Ambulance Service. We also want to say thank you to all who sent well wishes to Alder Hey and to the families affected. Our heartfelt sympathies remain with all those impacted by last week’s tragic events."

Our thoughts are also with yoga instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes, and their families and friends.

If you are struggling in connection with this traumatic incident, please contact Victim Support who are independent charity, dedicated to helping victims of crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. You can contact them for free by calling on:- 08081689111, or going to their website:- https://www.VictimSupport.Org.UK/more-us/contact-us/

The suspect in the Southport stabbings has been named as Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, 17, after restrictions preventing him from being identified were lifted. He remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder following the incident in Hart Street, Southport.

The people of Southport will not forget Elsie, Alice and Bebe.

Our thoughts continue to be with the families who have suffered profound loss and our community that has been heavily affected by this tragedy.

Southport Hesketh Round Table is now urgently seeking donations to assist the affected families and children affected by the attack. Donations can be made directly to the Southport Hesketh Round Table or to a Go Fund Me Page.

Marc Foreman of the Southport Hesketh Round Table expressed the collective grief and determination of the charity:- "The gravity of this atrocity is indescribable as we are still coming to terms with it. Our community has been deeply shaken, and as a charity based in this tight-knit community, we all know someone affected by this. Please donate whatever you can so we can try and build back up the lives affected by this horrific incident."

For those of you who do not know... Southport a small English seaside Town, located within the North of the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton. The Town lies on the Irish Sea coast on the Mersey Coastline and the Ribble estuary and is well known as a tourist destination. In 2021 census, Southport had a population of:- 94,421, making it the 11th most populous settlement in North West of England.