Southport stabbing: 17-year-old boy charged with murder

The youth, who can’t be named for legal reasons due to his age, was charged over the stabbing that left three children dead.

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar have been named as the victims of the knife rampage in Merseyside.

A teenager has been charged with the murder of three young girls following a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport.

The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons due to his age, was arrested by armed police on Monday shortly after emergency services were called to the antenatal centre.

He has also been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a bladed article.

The teenager has been remanded in custody and will appear at Liverpool City Magistrates Court on Thursday morning.

Alice Dasliva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were all fatally stabbed while attending the class at the Hart Space antenatal centre aimed at children aged six to 12.

Eight other children suffered stab wounds, with five in critical condition. Two adults were also critically injured in the incident.

Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy and Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Ursula Doyle announced the charges in a press conference held at midnight.

Doyle said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Merseyside Police to charge a 17-year-old boy, of Banks Lancashire, with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder following the tragic incident that took place in Southport this week.

Chief Constable Kennedy said: “Whilst these charges are a significant milestone within this investigation, this remains very much a live investigation and we continue to work with our partners from Lancashire police and counter-terrorism police in northwest.

“I would like to thank all the forces who have offered and supplied support to Merseyside Police during the last three days and I can confirm that we are being supported with investigative resources from across the northwest.”

On Wednesday afternoon, the force announced they had been given more time to question the teenager.

The Times