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Southport in Shock After Fatal Stabbing of Children and Far-Right Riots
The coastal town of Southport is in shock following a fatal stabbing of several children and far-right riots. Some streets resembled a war zone in the morning as rioters near a mosque threw bricks, trash cans, and street signs at police. A burned-out police car was visible. 39 officers were injured, with 27 requiring hospital treatment.
Motive for Bloodshed Unclear
The violent riots, which broke out after a peaceful vigil for the victims, were fueled by rumors and false reports about the suspected attacker's identity. The 17-year-old allegedly stabbed three girls aged six, seven, and nine to death and injured eight more children and two adults. The motive remains unclear.
Online reports suggested the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker with an Arabic-sounding name who had been monitored by British intelligence. Critics accused right-wing politician Nigel Farage, who played a key role in Brexit, of stirring up sentiment. The leader of Reform UK had speculated in a video posted on X that authorities were hiding the "truth."
Police Dispel Online Speculation
Police dismissed these claims, which were also spread by a Russian state media outlet. They stressed that the 17-year-old was born in the UK. The BBC reported that the teenager is the son of Rwandan parents and has lived in the Southport region for over a decade. Police believe it was a lone attacker and not a terrorist act.
Rioters, after a vigil for the stabbing victims, threw bricks at both police and the local mosque, and looted a business, police said. They also set cars and trash cans on fire. Most rioters were members of a far-right group who had traveled to Southport, police said.
"These were thugs who came by train, not locals," local MP Patrick Hurley told BBC Radio 4. They exploited the bloodshed for their own political ends and attacked "the same first responders and police" who stopped the attacker on Monday.
"Vigil Hijacked"
The British government condemned the riots. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper warned that rioters would face the full force of the law.
"The thugs who hijacked the vigil for the victims with violence and brutality have insulted the mourning community," Starmer said on X. He laid flowers at the scene, but was heckled by onlookers demanding tougher action against migrants.
Police Suffer Broken Bones and Cuts
Among the injured officers, police reported broken bones, cuts, a suspected broken nose, and a concussion. Three police dogs were also injured.
"This is not the way to treat a community, especially one still reeling from Monday's events," said Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Alex Goss. The police were granted extended powers to stop and search people in the area for 24 hours.
The United Kingdom's political landscape was further divided after the far-right riots in Southport, with right-wing politician Nigel Farage being accused of stirring up sentiment. The suspected attacker in the fatal stabbing of several children in Southport was born and raised in the United Kingdom, as confirmed by the British police.
