Southport: Downing Street lit up pink in tribute as PM sets out support package

No 10 was lit up pink "as a mark of respect and solidarity" in remembrance of the girls killed in Southport on Monday.

Three children, Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, died after being stabbed at the Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance workshop at The Hart Space on Monday morning. Eight other children and two adults were also injured.

A 17-year-old boy, Axel Rudakubana, was arrested and has since been charged with murder and attempted murder.

Earlier on Friday, Sir Keir Starmer met Liverpool mayor Steve Rotheram and Merseyside Police's chief constable Serena Kennedy - as well as faith, health, and education leaders in the town.

He then travelled to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool where some of the children injured in Monday's attack were treated.

Downing Street also announced a support package for victims and bereaved families, that it said will also "drive longer term efforts to bring the community together".

The prime minister said: "I cannot begin to imagine the pain that people are going through right now, but I am determined to make sure that Southport and its leaders have all the support they need to preserve and nurture this strength of community spirit - not just in the immediate aftermath, but also in the years to come."

Support being coordinated "could include access to vital mental health and psychological services [and] a programme of engagement with the community on how to best recover and rebuild," Sir Keir added.

In the long term, the government will work with local leaders to "bolster community cohesion and build local resilience".

The stabbings were followed by outbreaks of violence, initially in Southport, where far-right groups targeted a mosque.

Other towns and cities, including Sunderland, Hartlepool, Manchester, and Aldershot have now experienced unrest, with more protests planned across the country this weekend.

False narratives about the suspect's nationality and religion have spread online and appear to be driving the unrest, with far-right groups reposting the claims on messaging app Telegram.

How did disinformation spread?

It prompted Judge Andrew Menary KC to allow the naming of the suspect, who normally would have been granted anonymity as he is 17.

Many of the posts promoting the protests on social media contain phrases such as "enough is enough", "save our kids", and "stop the boats".

Stand Up To Racism and other groups are organising at least two counter-protests.

Sir Keir addressed the unrest earlier this week, vowing to "crackdown on thugs", and setting up a new police unit to tackle violent disorder.

So far protests have centered on mosques and hotels where migrants are living.

The protests arranged for the weekend include ones in Southport, Leeds, and Bristol.

Police in Northern Ireland have said they are aware of plans to "block roads with women and children".

Meanwhile, forces in Nottinghamshire and Thames Valley are on high alert.

Liverpool City Region mayor said he was "concerned" that there could be a "repeat of violence somewhere in the Liverpool city region", but added: "We know exactly what we'd need to do to ensure that these things are nipped in the bud."

Lord Walney, the government's adviser on political violence and disruption, said police should be prepared to step in if it appears troublemakers are travelling to incite riots.

-SKY NEWS