Three-minute silence for Southport victims

Three-minute silence for Southport victims

Angela Ferguson reporting from Liverpool: Hundreds gathered in Southport to pay tribute to three young girls, Bebe King, Alice Aguiar, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, who lost their lives in a tragic knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop a year ago. The solemn occasion was marked by a three-minute silence observed at 15:00 BST on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressing the nation’s shared sorrow and solidarity.

Sefton Council emphasized that there were no large-scale gatherings planned, urging people to join in from wherever they were. Throughout the Liverpool City Region, flags flew at half-mast as a sign of respect, with the community coming together to honor the victims and their families. The families of the young girls requested that mourners refrain from leaving flowers at the scene of the attack in Hart Street.

Father John Heneghan, parish priest of St Marie’s Roman Catholic Church, acknowledged the immense difficulties faced by the families of the victims and the broader impact on the community. Sefton Council leader Marion Atkinson acknowledged the pain felt by everyone affected by the tragedy and emphasized the importance of supporting the families through this challenging time. The council has been closely adhering to the wishes of the victims’ families in planning the commemoration of the event one year on.

In the wake of the devastating incident, the families of the victims have expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support they received from the community, inspiring them to give back by initiating projects such as revamping the gardens of Southport Town Hall. The community’s resilience and unity have been highlighted by various individuals, including Andrew Brown, who founded Stand Up for Southport to advocate for the town in the aftermath of the tragedy. Southport MP Patrick Hurley reflected on the emotional significance of the day, emphasizing the town’s commitment to honoring the memory of the three young girls through local charitable initiatives

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