Merseyside faith leaders have called for calm and unity in the aftermath of the Southport knife attack. The statement follows violent incidents throughout England since the 29 July attack, which left three schoolgirls dead and ten others seriously injured. Merseyside’s faith leaders urged people to remember that there is much more that unites than divides communities. The group’s statement recognized the suffering of the young victims’ families and described efforts to create division in the aftermath as “divisive and hateful”.
The knife attack took place during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. Seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, and six-year-old Bebe King were killed, while eight other children and two adults were injured. False claims on social media that the attacker was an asylum seeker or Muslim have further contributed to the turmoil in the communities affected. In fact, a 17-year-old from Banks in Lancashire, Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, has been charged with three counts of murder, 10 attempted murders, and possession of a curved kitchen knife. Rudakubana, who has no known links to Islam, was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents moving to the Southport area in 2013.
After Southport’s disorder, violence has spread across towns and cities in England, with people injured, asylum seeker accommodation targeted, and mosques and shops damaged. More than 140 arrests have taken place across the country. Nine individuals are being charged regarding the Southport incident, while three men are being charged over unrest in Liverpool.
Merseyside’s faith leaders acknowledged the recent tragedies fell on people with significantly different ethnic and faith backgrounds, and reminded people that division destroys the very relationships and environment crucial to daily life. They insisted there was “no place for hate in our communities”, even in conditions that generate fear and danger. The statement ended by retelling inspiring stories of people who had united to sweep streets, repair walls and donate to the fund commemorating the three girls’ memory. The statement concluded with a united call for peace and justice, together with the importance of regaining pride in community spirit during a challenging time
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