29-07-2025
What time is the three-minute silence for the Southport attack?
The country will come together to show 'sorrow and solidarity' a year after the Southport attack, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
Sir Keir Starmer has said "the whole nation stands with the families of Bebe, Alice and Elsie" a year on from the Southport attack.
Three minutes of silence will be held in the Merseyside town today (29 July) to mark a year since Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven were murdered by Axel Rudakubana at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
In the days following the attack, during which Rudakubana also attempted to kill eight other children and two adults, violent disorder broke out in the seaside town and across the country.
The prime minister said: "We stand together in grief, in honour of the memory of those wonderful children, and in admiration of the families who have shown strength beyond words.
'We stand with all the children and adults who still bear the physical and mental scars of that day – and in awe of those who risked their lives to help."
When is the silence for the Southport victims?
The three-minute silence will be held in Southport at 3pm today (29 July).
People have been asked not to leave flowers at the scene, or at the schools the girls attended, as the town continues to rebuild after the tragedy.
Watch: 'We cannot allow evil to define us', says council deputy leader about Southport attacks
Members of the public are being asked to consider making donations to local causes, including funds set up in the names of the victims and the Southport Strong Together Appeal, which was established last year to support those affected.
No large vigil will be held, but churches and community centres will be open for those looking for support or space for quiet reflection.
What happened in the Southport attack?
Shortly before midday on 29 July, 2024, chilling footage showed the moment Rudakubana strolled up to the entrance of the dance class at The Hart Space, where a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop was taking place.
The 18-year-old had the hood of his green jumper up and a surgical mask on during the 22-second clip, which saw him approach the building before entering, where he began to attack the children and adults inside.
Describing the attack a year on, one girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: 'Some of the girls were sat down in a circle making bracelets with the teachers, and then a couple of them were getting up to get beads and I was stood in between two tables, and he came through the doors and stabbed a little girl in front of me, and then came for me and stabbed my arm.
'I turned and then he stabbed my back, even though I didn't feel it at the time, and then I went on to the landing where there was a bunch of girls huddled around, so I just started pushing them down the stairs, telling them to get out and to run.'
In January, "cruel and pure evil" Rudakubana received one of the highest minimum terms on record - 52 years - for the 'sadistic' murders of the three girls and attempted murder of others.
Who were the victims?
Alice da Silva Aguiar, aged nine
A keen dancer, she had been pictured eagerly waiting to get into the Taylor Swift-themed event on the day she was killed.
In a post on the Instagram account of Alice's WonderDance foundation yesterday (28 July), her family said: "Not a day goes by that we don't miss her terribly, the weight of pain is getting heavier every day. And so it will be forever. Now we are living with the beautiful memories and thinking about what tomorrow would be like if nothing had happened.'
Bebe King, aged six
Bebe's Hive, set up by her family to support grieving children, referenced Taylor Swift song "Bejeweled" in an Instagram post which said: 'Our girls' energy will continue to shimmer.'
The caption, which appeared to have been written by Bebe's mother Lauren, accompanied a video of her dancing and playing with a bubble machine. 'I feel her with me every day and that feeling is what keeps us going. Her light, her care, her spark – it lives on, and we'll continue it for as long as we can.'
Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven
At her funeral last summer, Elsie was described as 'a little girl who loved a big party' and had the 'ability to light up any room that she entered'.
The team behind Elsie's Story, a charity set up in her name to support other children, said on Instagram at the weekend: 'We set out with an ambition: to continue Elsie's legacy, to make a positive difference in her name, to bring hope to other children, and to show that we will not live in fear, but with fun and love."
Eight other children
The other children injured in the attack cannot be named for legal reasons.
John Hayes, 63
The businessman was stabbed in the leg while trying to disarm Rudakubana, but survived. He told ITV News how he ran from his office to help when he realised people were injured.
Asked if he felt he was a hero, he replied: 'I'm not going sit here and tell you that I was brave about the whole thing and confronting a knifeman, that's not the story at all."
Leanne Lucas, 35
The yoga class instructor suffered serious stab wounds while trying to protect two girls, but survived the attack.
She told LBC: 'My purpose was creating wellbeing events for children and families, and... for that to be trampled over has just really dampened all of our spirits. I'm not too sure how we'll ever move on, apart from use the girl's memories as a driving force to change things for other people in the future, so this doesn't have to happen to them again."
Read more
Southport MP says town won't be defined by atrocity one year on from attack (The Guardian)
Southport stabbing victim reveals how she survived attack - and fears 'it could happen again' (Sky News)
A Year On From The Southport Riots, Is The UK Really On The Edge Of Mass Civil Disobedience? (HuffPost)
