Clashes erupted between law enforcement and protesters in the English town of Southport, following the tragic deaths of three girls due to a mass stabbing allegedly perpetrated by a 17-year-old male.
Crowds in Southport, situated north of Liverpool, have set at least one police van ablaze. A source has described the town as generally “quiet.”
Speculation regarding the identity and background of the alleged attacker has circulated widely online. However, both the AP and the Sun report that the suspect hails from Cardiff, Wales.
TAYLOR SWIFT ‘COMPLETELY IN SHOCK’ AFTER THIRD CHILD DEAD IN UK DANCE CLASS STABBING
The investigation is being managed by Merseyside Police. The victims have been identified as Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6, while ten others remain hospitalized after the incident.
“There has been considerable speculation about the 17-year-old male currently in custody, and some are using this situation to propagate violence and unrest in our communities,” said Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss of the Merseyside Police to the Associated Press.
(Richard McCarthy/PA via AP)
“We have already indicated that the individual arrested was born in the U.K. and that speculation serves no one at this moment.”
The Sun has reported that the parents of the alleged attacker, born in 2006, immigrated to the United Kingdom from Rwanda.
BRITISH PRISON REFORM WILL RELEASE CONVICTS AFTER SERVING 40% OF TERM TO COMBAT OVERCROWDING: REPORTS
A neighbor described the family to the Sun as Christians who are “very normal,” featuring a “hard-working father and stay-at-home mother.”
Reform U.K. leader Nigel Farage shared his concerns on social media today, questioning, “I wonder if the truth is being concealed from us. I cannot say for certain, but I believe it’s a valid and important question.”
An unruly crowd clash with police, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Southport, northwest England, near where three girls were stabbed to death in a dance class the day before. The violence erupted shortly after a peaceful vigil was attended by hundreds in the center of Southport to mourn the 13 victims of the stabbings, including seven still in critical condition. (Richard McCarthy/PA via AP)
“What I do know is that something is going seriously wrong in our once-beautiful country.”
The consequences for the protesters remain uncertain, as police vans and rubbish bins have been set on fire during the disturbance.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The mass stabbing incident and the ongoing investigation involving the suspected assailant continue to unfold.
Fox News’ Ian Leonard contributed to this article.
Ian Leonard contributed to this report.
