LONDON (AP) — British police said Thursday they have charged a 17-year-old with murder over a stabbing attack that left three little girls dead and several more in critical condition. The charges came as the traumatized town of Southport cleaned up after a bout of far-right violence, and agitators fired up by anger and misinformation clashed with police near the prime minister’s residence in London.
The Merseyside Police force said the teenager, who has not been named because of his age, faces three counts of murder and 10 of attempted murder over people injured in the attack during a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class.
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LONDON (AP) — British police said Thursday they have charged a 17-year-old with murder over a stabbing attack that left three little girls dead and several more in critical condition. The charges came as the traumatized town of Southport cleaned up after a bout of far-right violence, and agitators fired up by anger and misinformation clashed with police near the prime minister’s residence in London.
Police Officers walk past a burnt out police vehicle as they are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool, England, following a violent protest in the wake of the killing of three girls who were fatally stabbed in northwest England, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Police faced violent demonstrators in the town of Hartlepool in northeast England, as far-right groups seek to stir anger over an attack they have sought to link — without evidence — to immigrants. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
A police car burns as officers are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool, England, following a violent protest in the wake of the killing of three girls who were fatally stabbed in northwest England, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Police faced violent demonstrators in the town of Hartlepool in northeast England, as far-right groups seek to stir anger over an attack they have sought to link — without evidence — to immigrants. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Firefighters tend to a burning police car as police officers are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool, England, following a violent protest in the wake of the killing of three girls who were fatally stabbed in northwest England, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Police faced violent demonstrators in the town of Hartlepool in northeast England, as far-right groups seek to stir anger over an attack they have sought to link — without evidence — to immigrants. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Firefighters tend to a burning police car as police officers are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool, England, following a violent protest in the wake of the killing of three girls who were fatally stabbed in northwest England, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Police faced violent demonstrators in the town of Hartlepool in northeast England, as far-right groups seek to stir anger over an attack they have sought to link — without evidence — to immigrants. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Police officers are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool, England, following a violent protest in the wake of the killing of three girls who were fatally stabbed in northwest England, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Police faced violent demonstrators in the town of Hartlepool in northeast England, as far-right groups seek to stir anger over an attack they have sought to link — without evidence — to immigrants. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
A police car burns as police officers are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool, England, following a violent protest in the wake of the killing of three girls who were fatally stabbed in northwest England, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Police faced violent demonstrators in the town of Hartlepool in northeast England, as far-right groups seek to stir anger over an attack they have sought to link — without evidence — to immigrants. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Police officers stand guard on the streets of Hartlepool, England, following a violent protest in the wake of the killing of three girls who were fatally stabbed in northwest England, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Police faced violent demonstrators in the town of Hartlepool in northeast England, as far-right groups seek to stir anger over an attack they have sought to link — without evidence — to immigrants. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Police officers clash with protesters during a 'Enough is Enough' protest rally in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Police officers clash with protesters during a 'Enough is Enough' protest rally in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A protester is detained by the police during a 'Enough is Enough' protest rally in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A protester points his finger towards a police officer during the 'Enough is Enough' protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
People attend the 'Enough is Enough' protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A protester is detained by police during the 'Enough is Enough' protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Police officers scuffle with people attending the 'Enough is Enough' protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A man is detained as people attend the 'Enough is Enough' protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Flowers and toys are placed on the junction of Tithebarn Road and Hart Street in Southport, England, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, after three girls killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday. (James Speakman/PA via AP)
A man is detained as people attend the 'Enough is Enough' protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A protester holds up a sign police officers gather during the "Enough is Enough" protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Protesters scuffle with police during the "Enough is Enough" protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A woman is detained as people attend the 'Enough is Enough' protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Protesters confront police officers during the "Enough is Enough" protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A man is detained as people attend the 'Enough is Enough' protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A police car burns as police officers are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool, England, following a violent protest in the wake of the killing of three girls who were fatally stabbed in northwest England, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Police faced violent demonstrators in the town of Hartlepool in northeast England, as far-right groups seek to stir anger over an attack they have sought to link — without evidence — to immigrants. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Protesters scuffle with police during the "Enough is Enough" protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Protesters confront police during the "Enough is Enough" protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Members of the public take part in a vigil near the scene in Hart Street, in Southport, England, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, where three children died and eight were injured in a knife attack during a Taylor Swift event at a dance school on Monday. (James Speakman/PA via AP)
Members of the public take part in a vigil near the scene in Hart Street, in Southport, England, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, where three children died and eight were injured in a knife attack during a Taylor Swift event at a dance school on Monday. (James Speakman/PA via AP)
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)
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)
A police van buns as and unruly crowd clashed 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)
He is due to appear in court in Liverpool later Thursday.
About two dozen children were attending the summer vacation workshop on Monday when an attacker with a knife burst in. Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6, died from their injuries. Ten other people were injured, among whom five girls and two adults are in critical condition.
Far-right demonstrators have launched several violent protests, ostensibly in response to the attack, clashing with police outside a mosque in Southport on Tuesday.
A few hundred protesters hurled beer cans and flares near British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s residence in Downing Street in central London on Wednesday evening. More than 100 people were arrested for offenses including violent disorder and assault on an emergency worker, London's Metropolitan Police force said.
Police also faced violent demonstrators in the town of Hartlepool in northeast England, as far-right groups seek to stir anger over an attack they have sought to link — without evidence — to immigrants.
Hours earlier, residents of Southport swept shattered glass and broken bricks from streets after far-right protesters clashed with police outside a mosque in the seaside town.
On Tuesday night a crowd of several hundred people hurled bricks and bottles at riot police in Southport, set garbage bins and vehicles on fire and looted a store, hours after a peaceful vigil for the girls, aged 6, 7 and 9, were killed. More than 50 officers were injured, including more than two dozen who were taken to hospitals, officials said.
“I am absolutely appalled and disgusted at the level of violence that was shown towards my officers," Merseyside Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said. "Some of the first responders who attended that awful scene on Monday ... then were faced with that level of violence.”
Five men have been arrested in connection with the riots in Southport, mainly for violent disorder; one was arrested for possessing a knife and fighting. Kennedy said more arrests were expected.
Starmer condemned the “thuggery” and said the protesters “hijacked” the community’s grief.
Norman Wallis, chief executive of the Southport Pleasureland amusement park, was one of dozens of people who turned up with brushes and shovels to clear the debris.
“It’s horrendous what those hooligans have done last night,” he said. “But none of those people were the people of Southport," he added. "The people of Southport are the ones here today cleaning the mess up.”
The protesters, who police said were supporters of the far-right English Defence League, were apparently fueled false online rumors about the suspect.
Police said a name circulating on social media — spread by far-right activists and accounts of murky origin purporting to be news organizations — was incorrect and that he was born in Britain, contrary to online claims he was an asylum-seeker. The names of suspects under the age of 18 are usually not made public in Britain.
Patrick Hurley, the local lawmaker, said the violence by “beered-up thugs” was the result of “propaganda and lies” spread on social media.
“This misinformation doesn’t just exist on people’s internet browsers and on people’s phones. It has real world impact,” he said.
Chanaka Balasuryla, whose corner store was looted for booze and cigarettes, said he watched from home on a surveillance camera as a gang broke in. He was terrified because a woman and her daughter lived upstairs and he feared the looters would set the shop on fire.
He learned later that the woman had confronted the mob and told them the Windsor Mini Mart was her shop and asked them to stop. The next morning he went get down to his shop were people waiting to help him clean up.
"I feel safe again because people are here to protect us,” he said.
The rampage in Southport is the latest shocking attack in a country where a recent rise in knife crime has stoked anxieties and led to calls for the government to do more to clamp down on bladed weapons, by far the most commonly used instruments in U.K. homicides.
Witnesses described hearing screams and seeing children covered in blood in the mayhem outside the Hart Space, a community center that hosts everything from pregnancy workshops to women’s boot camps.
Joel Verite, a window cleaner riding in a van on his lunch break, said his colleague slammed on the brakes and reversed to where a woman was hanging on the side of a car covered in blood.
“She just screamed at me: ‘He’s killing kids over there. He’s killing kids over there,’” Verite told Sky News.
“It was like a scene you’d see on a disaster film,” he said. “I can’t explain to you how horrific it is what I saw.”
Britain’s worst attack on children was in 1996, when 43-year-old Thomas Hamilton shot and killed 16 kindergartners and their teacher in a school gymnasium in Dunblane, Scotland. The United Kingdom subsequently banned the private ownership of almost all handguns.
While knives are used in about 40% of homicides each year, mass stabbings are unusual.
Associated Press writer Pan Pylas in London contributed to this report.
Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Ursula Doyle, left, and Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, speak during a press conference at Merseyside Police Headquarters in Liverpool, England, early Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, as they announce that a 17-year-old boy has been charged with the murders of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport. The teenager, who has not been named because of his age also faces 10 counts of attempted murder. (Eleanor Barlow/PA via AP)
Police Officers walk past a burnt out police vehicle as they are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool, England, following a violent protest in the wake of the killing of three girls who were fatally stabbed in northwest England, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Police faced violent demonstrators in the town of Hartlepool in northeast England, as far-right groups seek to stir anger over an attack they have sought to link — without evidence — to immigrants. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
A police car burns as officers are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool, England, following a violent protest in the wake of the killing of three girls who were fatally stabbed in northwest England, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Police faced violent demonstrators in the town of Hartlepool in northeast England, as far-right groups seek to stir anger over an attack they have sought to link — without evidence — to immigrants. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Firefighters tend to a burning police car as police officers are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool, England, following a violent protest in the wake of the killing of three girls who were fatally stabbed in northwest England, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Police faced violent demonstrators in the town of Hartlepool in northeast England, as far-right groups seek to stir anger over an attack they have sought to link — without evidence — to immigrants. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Firefighters tend to a burning police car as police officers are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool, England, following a violent protest in the wake of the killing of three girls who were fatally stabbed in northwest England, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Police faced violent demonstrators in the town of Hartlepool in northeast England, as far-right groups seek to stir anger over an attack they have sought to link — without evidence — to immigrants. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Police officers are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool, England, following a violent protest in the wake of the killing of three girls who were fatally stabbed in northwest England, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Police faced violent demonstrators in the town of Hartlepool in northeast England, as far-right groups seek to stir anger over an attack they have sought to link — without evidence — to immigrants. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
A police car burns as police officers are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool, England, following a violent protest in the wake of the killing of three girls who were fatally stabbed in northwest England, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Police faced violent demonstrators in the town of Hartlepool in northeast England, as far-right groups seek to stir anger over an attack they have sought to link — without evidence — to immigrants. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Police officers stand guard on the streets of Hartlepool, England, following a violent protest in the wake of the killing of three girls who were fatally stabbed in northwest England, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Police faced violent demonstrators in the town of Hartlepool in northeast England, as far-right groups seek to stir anger over an attack they have sought to link — without evidence — to immigrants. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Police officers clash with protesters during a 'Enough is Enough' protest rally in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Police officers clash with protesters during a 'Enough is Enough' protest rally in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A protester is detained by the police during a 'Enough is Enough' protest rally in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024 following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A protester points his finger towards a police officer during the 'Enough is Enough' protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
People attend the 'Enough is Enough' protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A protester is detained by police during the 'Enough is Enough' protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Police officers scuffle with people attending the 'Enough is Enough' protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A man is detained as people attend the 'Enough is Enough' protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Flowers and toys are placed on the junction of Tithebarn Road and Hart Street in Southport, England, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, after three girls killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday. (James Speakman/PA via AP)
A man is detained as people attend the 'Enough is Enough' protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A protester holds up a sign police officers gather during the "Enough is Enough" protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Protesters scuffle with police during the "Enough is Enough" protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A woman is detained as people attend the 'Enough is Enough' protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Protesters confront police officers during the "Enough is Enough" protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A man is detained as people attend the 'Enough is Enough' protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
A police car burns as police officers are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool, England, following a violent protest in the wake of the killing of three girls who were fatally stabbed in northwest England, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Police faced violent demonstrators in the town of Hartlepool in northeast England, as far-right groups seek to stir anger over an attack they have sought to link — without evidence — to immigrants. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Protesters scuffle with police during the "Enough is Enough" protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Protesters confront police during the "Enough is Enough" protest in Whitehall, London, Wednesday July 31, 2024, following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class on Monday in Southport. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Members of the public take part in a vigil near the scene in Hart Street, in Southport, England, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, where three children died and eight were injured in a knife attack during a Taylor Swift event at a dance school on Monday. (James Speakman/PA via AP)
Members of the public take part in a vigil near the scene in Hart Street, in Southport, England, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, where three children died and eight were injured in a knife attack during a Taylor Swift event at a dance school on Monday. (James Speakman/PA via AP)
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)
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)
A police van buns as and unruly crowd clashed 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)
