A 17-year-old boy appeared in court yesterday, facing three counts of murder and 10 of attempted murder for a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed party in Southport, northwest England.
The attack, which killed three girls – Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine – has sparked widespread outrage and misinformation online, fueling violent protests by far-right groups.
Protests erupted in several English cities, including London, Hartlepool, and Manchester, with over 100 people arrested outside Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s residence. Starmer is set to hold an emergency meeting with police chiefs to address the unrest.
The suspect, who cannot be named due to his age, was remanded in custody and appeared in court wearing a grey tracksuit and black slippers. He is accused of wounding eight children and two adults in the frenzied attack.
Far-right groups, including the English Defence League, have been linked to the violent clashes, which have left 53 police officers injured. The protests have also seen bricks thrown at a mosque and chants of “We want our country back” and “Stop the boats.”
