How Southport’s community came together in wake of dance class triple murder

A seaside community in Merseyside was left in complete shock after three young girls were killed while attending a local dance class.

Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine; Bebe King, six; and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; died following the attack at the Taylor Swift-themed class in The Hart Space on a small business park in Southport shortly before midday on July 29 last year.

The 18-year-old accused of killing the girls in a “meticulously planned rampage” pleaded guilty to the attack on Monday, on the first day of his trial.

Axel Rudakubana, of Banks, Lancashire, was to stand trial at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday charged with 16 offences, including three counts of murder.

He will be sentenced later this week.

Eight other children, instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes were also all injured in the incident.

The following day, hundreds of tributes were left close to the police cordon in Hart Street.

Staff from Natterjacks Day Nursery laid flowers and a heart-shaped artwork, decorated with children’s handprints.

A message on the artwork said: “The brightest stars are now dancing with the angels in heaven.

“Shine bright little ones, we will never forget your smiles and laughter.”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper laid flowers at the cordon as she visited Southport and met first responders in the town.

Later, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer placed his own floral tribute at the scene as he laid a wreath of pink and white flowers and stood momentarily in silence.

A handwritten note signed by Mr Starmer on the wreath read: “To the victims, families and people of Southport, our hearts are broken, there are no words for such profound loss. The nation’s thoughts are with you.”

That evening, hundreds of people gathered at a vigil outside the Atkinson arts venue to pay their respects, laying flowers and cards of remembrance.

Dozens of residents were outside Southport mosque with brushes and shovels on the morning of July 31, after violent protests had subsequently erupted which saw bricks, stones and bottles thrown at police and cars set alight.

Local residents brought flowers to the mosque, which was targeted in the disorder, and helped to organise repairs for the building.

Buildings across north west England – including Southport’s Atkinson arts venue, St George’s Hall and the Cunard Building in Liverpool and hospitals across the region – were lit up pink this on the evenings of August 2, 3 and 4 in memory of the victims.

A series of fundraisers were launched by groups and charities in the wake of the attack.

The Southport Stronger Together appeal was launched by the Community Foundation for Merseyside, in partnership with Sefton Council and Sefton Council for Voluntary Service (CVS), aiming to help those experiencing bereavement, serious injury, hardship or psychological issues who were directly impacted by the attack. It raised more than £340,000.

The Southport Dance Group Emergency Fund raised more than £150,000, with donations including £10,000 from former Liverpool footballer Steven Gerrard and a donation of the same amount from England and Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon.

Community radio station Mighty Radio raised more than £10,000 and plans to distribute the money raised between the ten surviving victims of the attack.

Managing director and presenter Trevor Ford, 55, told the PA news agency: “We were devastated, as the whole of Southport was.

“We just felt we had to do something. We were contacted by families, children who wanted to set up cake stalls. People from all over the country have helped raise that figure.”

Taylor Swift fans also came together to raise money for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in the Swifties for Southport appeal and raised more than £390,000.

Cristina Jones, from Wiltshire and Holly Goldring, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, set the JustGiving page which went viral.

“We felt like we needed to do something. Everyone was heartbroken,” Ms Jones told the PA news agency.

“Friends and followers shared the fundraiser. Within minutes of the link being posted we had over £1,000. Everyone was just amazing and really rallied.”

The money went to Alder Hey Children’s Charity, the charity for the hospital where some of the victims were treated.

The charity said the money went towards funerals for the victims and to the families.

Ms Jones added: “Nothing could’ve made those families feel any better, but I hope that they know we were all thinking of them, and we did it with just them in mind.”

One week on from the attack on August 5, locals again gathered in their hundreds to attend a peaceful vigil at the Atkinson arts centre.

Many of the children at the event were dressed in pink, with some leaving chalk messages on the pavement in front of the building while others blew bubbles and left flowers and heart-shaped balloons.

The King suspended his traditional Balmoral break to visit Southport and hold a private meeting with some of the injured young children and their families at the town hall on August 20.

Before sitting down with the families, Charles spent a few moments looking at flowers left outside and went on a brief walkabout, meeting well-wishers who had cheered when he arrived.

He later stopped at Southport Community Fire Station and chatted to many of the emergency services members who had dealt with the fatal incident.

The following day, Charles met the families of the three victims during a private audience at Clarence House in London.

On August 23, the funeral of Elsie Dot Stancombe – the final funeral to be held for the three victims – took place in the town.

A horse-drawn carriage travelled from the family home through streets decorated with pink ribbons to St John’s Church in Birkdale.

Elsie’s coffin, topped with a blue cuddly toy, was carried up a pink carpet as members of her cheerleading squad, Vortex Cheer, formed a guard of honour, before going into the building through a balloon arch as bubbles were blown into the air.

Those attending the service wore bright colours and florals, after Elsie’s family asked those attending not to wear black, while others watched the funeral on screens at the church hall and Liverpool Road Methodist Church.

As the cortege passed floral tributes in Southport town centre after the service, hundreds gathered and applauded.