In a tragic incident in Southport, UK, three young girls were fatally stabbed during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. The incident sparked violent protests near a local mosque, resulting in injuries to nearly two dozen police officers. The rioters, incited by online rumors that the assailant was a Muslim migrant, disrupted a peaceful vigil held in memory of the victims. The vigil had drawn hundreds of mourners to the city center.
The crowd, some of whom were masked, clashed with police officers in riot gear, throwing bottles and stones. The situation escalated when a police van was set on fire. The rioters, chanting slogans such as “No surrender!” and “English till I die!” also set off fireworks and caused significant damage to the street. A helicopter was deployed to monitor the situation from above.
The North West Ambulance Service reported that 22 police officers were treated for injuries sustained during the riot, with 11 requiring hospitalization. Some officers were seen bleeding, and at least one suffered a broken nose. The severity of the situation led the NWAS to declare a major incident.
Tensions were further stoked when Prime Minister Keir Starmer attended the vigil, laying a wreath and leaving a note expressing the nation’s condolences. His departure was met with angry shouts from the crowd, questioning the government’s response to the tragedy.
The police identified the violent protesters as supporters of the English Defence League, a far-right group. The unrest was reportedly fueled by rumors that the 17-year-old suspect in the stabbings was linked to Islam.
The day before the riots, a knife-wielding individual had attacked a dance and yoga workshop for children aged 6 to 11 at The Hart Space. The victims, aged 6, 7, and 9, were killed, and several others, including two adults who tried to intervene, were critically injured.
Witnesses likened the scene of the attack to a “horror movie.” The 17-year-old suspect, who was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, has not been identified. Authorities stated that he was born in Cardiff, Wales, and had lived for years in a village about three miles from the scene of the crime. The incident is not currently being treated as terror-related.
Pop superstar Taylor Swift expressed her shock and sorrow over the incident, stating that she was at a loss for words to convey her sympathies to the victims’ families.