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Vigil held outside Atkinson after Southport tragedy
Thousands of mourners gather to remember three children killed in stabbing attack
A shrine has been created at the Atkinson museum and cultural centre in Southport, Merseyside, to remember the three young children murdered in a stabbing attack in the seaside town earlier this week.
A vigil was held at outside the museum on Tuesday 30 July when thousands of mourners gathered to pay their respects to the victims, who were killed as they attended a holiday dance club the day before. They have been named as six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, aged nine.
A 17-year-old boy is being questioned in connection with the crime. Seven other children and two adults were injured in the attack, with six currently in a critical condition.
Hundreds of tributes, including balloons, teddies, messages of sympathy and flower bouquets, have been left outside the Atkinson by mourners.
There was further violence in the town hours after the vigil, when a riot broke out and far-right protesters attacked police and a mosque.
The Atkinson has expressed solidarity with the community after this week's tragic events.
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In a statement, the institution said: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic events that have affected our community. Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this loss.”
It added: “We understand that this is a difficult time, and we are here for our community… We look forward to providing a welcoming and supportive space for our community.”
A book of remembrance is available to sign at the museum.
Western Approaches, Southport’s second world war museum, is offering free entry to parents from the town following the tragedy.
The museum posted on X: “It’s an immeasurably tiny gesture but if any Southport parents want to take their kids (and their own) minds off things this week, just tell our staff on reception you have guest list tickets and you’ll get free entry, no questions asked. Clueless how else to help, but we’re all heartbroken. So many Southport primary schools visit us every year.”
Earlier in the week, the museum posted that it was “horrified and heartbroken” by the “abhorrent violence”.
“Our thoughts are with all of those affected and with the emergency services responding to those injured,” it said.