Latest Southport knife attack: Victims are Alice Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe, suspect arrested

Sir Keir Starmer visited the scene in Southport this afternoon, where he laid a wreath with the following message: “To the victims, the families and the people of Southport, our hearts are broken, there are no words to describe such a profound loss. The thoughts of the nation are with you.”

Seven children were taken to Alder Hey Hospital after the stabbing in Southport, the NHS said.

“We can confirm that seven children have been taken to Alder Hey following yesterday’s heartbreaking incident in Southport,” Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.

“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, one child has died. The other children continue to receive care, with two of them still in intensive care but currently in a stable condition.

“The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Alder Hey remain with the children, young people and their families involved and all those affected by yesterday’s incident.

“We will continue to provide them with all possible support during this devastating time.”

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to “tackle” high levels of knife crime in the UK during his visit to Southport today.

Speaking to SkyNews, Sir Keir Starmer said: “I am very concerned about the high level of knife crime, and I am absolutely determined that my government will deal with it, but today is not the time for politics, today is the time to focus entirely on families and the wider community.”

The Independent Tara Cobham Southport reports:

Members of the public hug and cry together as they stand and watch floral tributes gather at the top of Hart Street.

Since very early this morning, families and individuals have been gathering at the scene.

They stand in thoughtful silence or speak in hushed tones as the Southport community comes together as it struggles to cope with yesterday’s horror.

The Independent Tara Cobham Southport reports:

Ambulance staff broke down in tears as they held each other and paid their respects at the scene of the tragic incident in Southport.

Crying could be heard as visibly distraught paramedics walked together to lay floral tributes at the top of Hart Street.

They hugged each other and could be heard commenting on how difficult it was to return to the scene after the horrific incident yesterday.

The Independent Tara Cobham Southport reports:

Sir Keir Starmer laid flowers at the scene in tribute to those attacked in Southport and their loved ones, as angry members of the crowd shouted at him.

The Prime Minister walked with a bouquet to the top of Hart Street, where the terrible incident took place yesterday, and laid it among the many flowers that had accumulated at the scene.

As he turned to return to his motorcade, members of the crowd began booing Sir Keir, shouting “when will you change?”, “our children are dying because of you” and “how many more?”

The shouting grew louder and louder as the prime minister was rushed into his car before it sped away from the scene.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer shook hands with firefighters and ambulance staff during a visit to Southport police station and said he wanted to thank them personally.

He said, “I know you’re ready to face any situation that comes your way, you do it every day.

“But we shouldn’t pretend that what you experienced yesterday was ordinary or just a usual response. It was really, really difficult. I just wanted to say a personal thank you to each of you, that’s why I wanted to shake each of your hands, for what you did yesterday.

“I am incredibly proud of what you have done.

“I am amazed, but not surprised, that you are here today, continuing your duties.

“I really want you to focus on the fact that there are children alive today because of what you did yesterday. It’s incredible. It’s what you do every day, but it’s under the most difficult circumstances.

“I don’t want you to think for one minute that the rest of the country didn’t see this.”

Sir Keir Starmer made a brief visit to the crime scene to lay a wreath, after earlier meeting emergency workers who attended yesterday’s stabbing.

Our reporter Tara Cobham at the scene said angry shouts of “our children are dying because of you” were heard from the crowd before he left with his convoy.