St Helens Police lay Wendy's Flowers after Southport stabbing

As has been widely reported, it is understood that a suspect entered a Taylor Swift themed dance class in Hart Street, Southport, and stabbed multiple children and adults.

It has been confirmed that Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, all lost their lives in the tragedy.

Eight other children suffered stab wounds and five are in a critical condition, alongside two adults who were also critically injured.

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The flowers supplied by Wendy's Flowers and laid by local police officers (Image: St Helens Police)
Following the awful events on Monday, July 29, countless people have laid flowers near the scene of the stabbings to pay their respects.

This included officers from the St Helens and Newton police forces, who were supplied flowers from Wendy's Flowers in Rainford, and laid them near the Southport dance class on Tuesday afternoon.

Inside the flowers, a touching tribute reads: "Keep dancing, keep smiling beautiful angels.

"In our thoughts, [from the] local policing team at Newton and St Helens, Merseyside Police."

Politicians including metro mayor Steve Rotheram, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer have also visited Southport to pay their respects and thank the local emergency services.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer paying his respects in Southport (Image: PA)
Meanwhile, hundreds of people took part in a vigil on Tuesday evening outside Southport’s Atkinson arts venue, with many in tears as they laid flowers and cards of remembrance.

This vigil was followed by a protest outside a mosque in Southport as demonstrators chanting far-right slogans clashed with police in St Luke’s Road.

Police have since confirmed that 22 officers were injured in the disorder, with eight sustaining serious injuries including fractures, lacerations, a suspected broken nose and concussion.

Other officers have suffered varying degrees of injury including head injuries, serious facial injuries and one was knocked unconscious.

There was violent clashes in Southport after a vigil was organised (Image: PA)
Three police dogs have also been injured, and a 24-hour Section 60 Order has been introduced in the area with extra officers providing a visible presence to reassure communities.

A 17-year-old boy, from the village of Banks in Lancashire, has been arrested and is being held on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.