Three-minute silence for Southport victims | UK News

Hundreds have gathered in Southport to observe a three-minute silence one year on from the knife attack that left three young girls dead.

Bebe King, six, Alice Aguiar, nine, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were murdered in the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop on 29 July 2024.

Ahead of the tribute at 15:00 BST on Tuesday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the country would come together to “show sorrow and solidarity”.

Sefton Council said no large-scale gatherings or vigils were planned, with local churches and community centres opening their doors to allow people to pay their respects, as well as time for quiet reflection.

Sefton Council asked “everyone to join with us, wherever you may be”.

All across the Liverpool City Region flags flew at half mast with the silence observed throughout the area, including members of the emergency services.

The families of the victims asked people not to leave flowers.

Eight more children and two adults were seriously injured in the attack in Hart Street in Southport last year.

In a post on X, the prime minister said: “The nation wants to put its arms around you all.

“We will come together today to show our sorrow and solidarity.

“But also to show our determination to uphold the true legacy of Bebe, Alice and Elsie – one of joy, kindness and love.”

Ahead of the three-minute silence, Sefton Council leader Marion Atkinson said it was “a very difficult day for everybody, but more so the families who are going through what must be just dreadful today”.

She said: “My thoughts are with the families of Alice, Bebe and Elsie, but also the families whose children were injured and the adults who were injured.”

She said the council had been guided by the wishes of the victims’ families over the past 12 months, including planning how to mark the event one year on.

Atkinson said the families were “inspirational and so selfless”, wanting to give back to the town through projects such as revamping Southport Town Hall’s gardens, despite all the challenges they continue to face.

“The words will stay with me forever – what they said – which was that, at a time when they really needed it, the town and Sefton put their arms around them as families, and they just wanted to say thank you,” she said.

“I have been astonished at the way the community has rallied round the families, and then how the families put their arms around the people of Southport by wanting to create something positive ou of this situation,” said Andrew Brown, who founded Stand Up for Southport to provide a “positive voice” for the town in the aftermath of the tragedy.

He also paid tribute to people from the Liverpool City Region who rallied round the town: “We’ve needed that support over the past year.”

Southport MP Patrick Hurley told Radio Merseyside on Tuesday morning that “today is an emotional day commemorating the loss of life of those three lovely little girls”.

He said what happened on Hart Street 12 months ago would not define the future of the town, adding local charities had been set up in memory of Bebe, Alice and Elsie.

“The town’s community spirit, and that level of solidarity and togetherness, was really evident, especially in the hours and days and weeks after the attack,” said Hurley.

Lauren Jones, from Sefton Council for Voluntary Service (CVS), is leading a project to further support recovery work in the town.

“Over the last 12 months the community has really pulled together,” she said.

“You can see a lot of good community spirit, and I think that people have been encouraged to talk about their feelings and to go and get help if they need it.

“It’s really important that, if you are feeling anxious or you’re feeling depressed, you need to go and speak to somebody about it – whether that be your GP, or you come through us and we can refer you.

“Just talk about it. It’s going to help.”