UK- Major incident declared in Southport after multiple stabbings, 29 July 2024

[Grouse]

"He walked into the studio through the front door, which was unlocked for fire safety reasons."

Taxi picked up alleged attacker 20 minutes before horror stabbing

 

[JennieM]

The woman/girl who was running the dance class, does anyone know how old she is?

35

 

[Inthedetails]

"A neighbour,
who did not want to be named said they would often
'hear singing'
from the house of the alleged attacker,
which remains behind a cordon.

They said:
'It's a massive, massive shock.
He [the alleged attacker]
would come in from school and be singing.

He never went out,
we never saw them.
We [never really] spoke to them more than to say hello
in seven years and then this'.

The neighbours said the family were heavily involved with a local church,
and described the suspect as
a 'quiet choir boy'
who they would often hear singing."

Taxi picked up alleged attacker 20 minutes before horror stabbing

Speaking exclusively to the Liverpool ECHO a neighbour told how police were forced to barricade residents in during the riots

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

I wonder what he sang at home? Church music? Taylor Swift songs? I don't know what he sang, but now we know music was part of his life. I'm still thinking at least part of his motivation had to do with Taylor Swift and/or her fan base.

jmo

edited to correct misspelling of Taylor Swift's name!

 

[Dotta]

Dbm

 

[Alyce]

More footage of suspect plus short news report

https://www.itv.com/news/2024-07-31/cctv-shows-southport-stabbings-suspect-in-the-hour-before-attack

 

[JennieM]

Bottles and cans thrown at Met officers wearing helmets
20:46

Over the last hour or so we've been following a planned protest in central London, which you can catch up on in our last few posts.

Bottles and cans have been thrown at police – many wearing helmets – and chanting has included phrases such as "stop the boats".

We've also spotted some attendees – via a live stream of the event – being led away by police but the Metropolitan Police has so far not released any details of arrests being made.

The Met's statement from earlier today said a condition placed on the protest was that it must conclude by 20:30 BST. As it stands, the action is ongoing.

We'll bring you any other updates as we get them.



Demonstration attendees shout 'this is England now'
20:22

Ellie Price
Reporting from Whitehall

Police have extended a cordon around Whitehall, near Downing Street.

Police lines start around the cenotaph and officers are now pushing protesters down the road.

I’ve seen people shouting “this is England now” and insulting Islam. I’ve also heard glasses being thrown. There are plenty of people chanting.

Numbers seem to be in the tens but it’s difficult to tell who wants to protest and who is just here to watch. There's a police helicopter hovering above.



Protest under way near Downing Street
19:34

We're following a protest that's under way near Downing Street, which the Metropolitan Police say is being badged 'Enough is Enough'.

It comes a day after riots broke out in Southport following a stabbing attack in the town on Monday, in which three children were killed.

In footage from the scene, protesters can be heard chanting "save our kids" and "Rule Britannia". Flares have also been thrown towards the gates of Downing Street.
In a statement released earlier, the Met said officers will be deployed to the area to ensure the demonstration is "carried out lawfully".

Superintendent Neil Holyoak, leading tonight’s policing operation, earlier said he urges "everyone to exercise their right to protest calmly and within the law. Any disorder will be dealt with swiftly".

Yoga teacher injured while 'shielding girls' in Southport attack recovering, family tells BBC

The family of Leanne Lucas, who ran the Taylor Swift-themed dance class, say she acted like a "hero" during the attack, in which three children were killed.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[astheworldfallsdown]

Yoga teacher awake and recovering from stab injuries, family tells BBC

Leanne Lucas, the yoga teacher who was injured in a knife attack in Southport, is awake and has spoken for the first time, her family tells the BBC.

Her cousin Chris Rimmer says Leanne is a “hero” and who had “shielded two girls” during the attack on Monday.

The 35-year-old was described as being in a “critical condition” following the attack. Chris says she is “not out of the woods yet”, but that she is recovering.
Rimmer says the family was “torn apart” by the incident.

“Everyone that is sat in this house right now is just concentrating on getting her home and concentrating on her [recovering enough] that we can see her,” he adds.

Yoga teacher injured while 'shielding girls' in Southport attack recovering, family tells BBC

The family of Leanne Lucas, who ran the Taylor Swift-themed dance class, say she acted like a "hero" during the attack, in which three children were killed.

www.bbc.co.uk

This is at least a little bit of good news. I hope she makes a full recovery. What a brave lady.

 

[dotr]

• 2 hours ago

ITV News has obtained CCTV footage of the Southport stabbing suspect walking down a residential street in the Banks area of Southport, hours before three children were killed and several other people were critically injured. Report by Czubalam.

 

[Inthedetails]

Numbers seem to be in the tens but it’s difficult to tell who wants to protest and who is just here to watch.

Snipped

Numbers in the tens. Good. Keep it that way (or even lower).

jmo

 

[seasideForest]

Leanne Lucas' cousin Chris Rimmer is quoted 'while the family did not want to share too much information regarding her recovery, she was “doing OK” and that the family wanted to keep Leanne and the other victims of the attack at the forefront of people’s minds' www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9e9z1pm59eo
BBM
Some of the other things he has said in that article have been quoted already on the thread.

Among all the reports of and discussion of the protests and riots, it's easy to forget the rest of the real victims here. There are still children from the dance class in a critical condition in hospital. Even those 'just' in a serious condition could do with our thoughts and prayers, along with their families of course.

MOO JMO

 

[Inthedetails]

Leanne Lucas' cousin Chris Rimmer is quoted 'while the family did not want to share too much information regarding her recovery, she was “doing OK” and that the family wanted to keep Leanne and the other victims of the attack at the forefront of people’s minds' www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9e9z1pm59eo
BBM
Some of the other things he has said in that article have been quoted already on the thread.

Among all the reports of and discussion of the protests and riots, it's easy to forget the rest of the real victims here. There are still children from the dance class in a critical condition in hospital. Even those 'just' in a serious condition could do with our thoughts and prayers, along with their families of course.

MOO JMO

Of course the victims are in my heart. As a mom who brought my daughter to dance class, as a former babysitter who brought the kids I watched to dance class, as an aunt who brought my nieces to dance class, and as a former little girl who attended dance class myself, I can envision the scene and the people very well and I wish them a peaceful recovery.

But....this is a true crime discussion board. As much as I feel for the victims and remember them, I'm also interested in the crime, motive, and investigation.

jmo

 

[Earthwindfire]

Such a sad tragedy. My daughter's dance class has sent an email round saying they will review their safety policies in light of this. But what can be done? It's a church hall. There's often other church related activities going on in the same place. And quite frankly, extra security isn't going to stop a loan criminal who plans to do something like this from doing it. What about classes outside as well? Or just children in a playground. Children have to live their lives and thankfully cases like this are rare.

What really needs to happen is attack like this need to be explored and learned from. What went wrong? What made a 17 year old male act this way. MOO.

 

[Earthwindfire]

Walking around on a really hot day in a face mask and hoodie pulled up then kicking off with the taxi driver ?
He literally did not give a toss how much attention he drew prior to this attack.
JMO

Maybe it suggests an agitated mind?

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1818736535077781715

 

[seasideForest]

But....this is a true crime discussion board. As much as I feel for the victims and remember them, I'm also interested in the crime, motive, and investigation.

jmo

RSBM
I don't mean just on here necessarily, I mean also all over the news. Those protesting and rioting have made it about themselves and their so-called cause, which is a separate issue from whatever led the 17 yo suspect to go on a knife rampage.

MOO

 

[Parker Knoll]

Police dogs were hurt last night in Southport.
Eughhhh.

 

[martinwatts5]

Why did he leave it so late in the morning to take the taxi if he knew the event was on from 10-12? There was a chance that the event may have finished early or the taxi may have been delayed.

 

[Inthedetails]

RSBM
I don't mean just on here necessarily, I mean also all over the news. Those protesting and rioting have made it about themselves and their so-called cause, which is a separate issue from whatever led the 17 yo suspect to go on a knife rampage.

MOO

I think they are related - one thing led directly to the other. I think we can keep two balls juggling.

Though I understand the desire not to.

jmo

 

[worldwatcher]

*A report was received at 6.50pm that a man had been seen with a knife on Eastbank Street

"Detective Inspector Gavin Mulcahy said: “We know too well the devastating impact knife crime can have for victims, their families and friends, and those who carry them.

“This week has seen an unspeakable tragedy unfold in Southport, and this incident occurred a short distance from where a vigil had been happening where the community was paying their respects to all those affected.

“Officers made a swift arrest and have seized a knife that could have been used to cause harm in our communities."

Man arrested with knife near Southport vigil

 

[Alyce]

Why did he leave it so late in the morning to take the taxi if he knew the event was on from 10-12? There was a chance that the event may have finished early or the taxi may have been delayed.

In the news report, my post 426, the reporter suggests that he might have been intending to go to a different event, closer to his home. That plan might have delayed him.