Hundreds attend peaceful Southport vigil for girls killed in stabbing

Hundreds of people have attended a peaceful vigil in Southport a week on from the murders of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Dasilva Aguiar.

Children blew bubbles and others left flowers and heart-shaped balloons on Monday evening in remembrance of the victims of the stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club.

Hundreds of bubbles were donated by local shops, arcades, charities and families of the victims, the event’s organiser said.

Many of the children at the vigil were dressed in pink, with some leaving chalk messages on the pavement in front of The Atkinson arts centre in Southport town centre.

Event organiser Kylie Clift said: “I organised this event as I feel a great importance in our children being able to grieve too.

“They can express so much emotion through fun yet sensitive activities, like bubble blowing.

Young children play with bubble wands among floral tributes
Young children play with bubble wands among floral tributes (Ryan Jenkinson/PA)

“There will be time to take a moment and remember those we’ve lost and those who still continue to fight.

“We have the amazing Wendy Chalke singing a heartfelt song whilst we all come together as a community and blow as many bubbles as we can, blowing them ‘kisses’ to heaven.”

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said one child remained in hospital after the Southport attack and all other patients have been discharged.

Members of the public look at floral tributes
Members of the public look at floral tributes (Ryan Jenkinson/PA)

Hundreds of people took part in a peaceful vigil for the stabbing victims on July 30 outside The Atkinson venue, with many in tears as they laid flowers and cards the day after the attack.

That vigil was followed by a separate protest on the same day outside a local mosque as demonstrators chanted far-right slogans and clashed with police in St Luke’s Road.

The Prime Minister subsequently said rioters in Southport had “hijacked” the vigil and would “feel the full force of the law”.

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