A large crowd of right-wing, anti-Muslim protesters has clashed violently with police in Southport, northwest England, just hours after a memorial vigil was held for the victims of a stabbing attack during a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class for children. Merseyside Police reported that 22 officers were injured during the violence, with eight sustaining serious injuries.
The unrest began as several hundred people, mostly men, targeted a mosque in Southport, setting vehicles and bins on fire, and attacking a local store. Bottles and bricks were thrown at the police, who connected the perpetrators to the English Defence League (EDL), a group known for organizing violent protests against Islam. Officers on duty and reinforcements from other forces were called in to restore order.
“This evening, Merseyside Police has been subjected to serious violence in Southport,” said Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss in a statement, adding that the police displayed “courage while under constant and sustained attack.”
The violence erupted shortly after hundreds gathered in the town center to honor the victims by placing flowers and toys. Three girls were killed in the attack, and eight children were injured, with five in critical condition at the hospital. Two adults who tried to protect them are also in critical condition.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised that “the full force of the law” would be applied against the violent protesters. “The people of Southport are in shock following the horrific incident yesterday,” he wrote on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). “They deserve our support and respect. Those who have taken over the vigil for the victims with violence and gang activity have insulted the community while it is grieving.”
Police have arrested a teenager on suspicion of murder and attempted murder in connection with the stabbing attack, stating that the suspect was born in Cardiff and lives in a village near Southport. “There has been much speculation and hypothesis regarding the status of a 17-year-old man currently in police custody, and some individuals are using this to bring violence and disorder to our streets,” Goss stated. “We have already clarified that the arrested individual was born in the UK, and speculation is of no help at this time.”
Goss and local politicians have indicated that many involved in the violence on Tuesday came from other areas, while the Liverpool Region Mosque Network has stated that a minority of individuals are trying to exploit this incident to spread hate. “This evening, we have witnessed disturbing scenes outside Southport Mosque with angry protesters gathering outside,” they said in a statement. “This creates further fear and anxiety in our community.”
The three girls who died in the attack have been identified as six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, whose parents are Portuguese. “Keep smiling and dancing, as you love to do, our princess, as we have previously told you, you will always be our princess, and no one can change that,” stated Aguiar’s family in a statement.
Singer Taylor Swift expressed her shock and sorrow on Instagram over the “loss of life and innocence as well as the terrible trauma inflicted on everyone.”