Three girls killed in Southport stabbing named as tributes paid to Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Aguiar

TRIBUTES are pouring in for the three innocent young girls who were savagely attacked and killed in Southport yesterday.

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

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The trio had been at a Taylor Swift-themed “yoga and dance” holiday club when the horror unfolded.

Tributes poured in for young Alice earlier today, after her family confirmed she tragically succumbed to her injuries in the early hours of this morning.

Her heartbroken loved ones this afternoon said she would “always be their princess”.

An emotional tribute read: “Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our Princess, like we said before to you, you’re always our princess and no one would change that.

“Love from Your Hero Daddy and Mummy.”

Young Bebe’s family also opened up about their devastation.

The loved ones said: “No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as we try to deal with the loss of our little girl Bebe.”

Churchtown Primary School also paid tribute to Alice – who was described as a “true ray of sunshine” – and “joyful” Bebe.

Headteacher Jinnie Payne said: “It is with great sadness that we heard the tragic news about the three children who died following yesterday’s atrocity, including Alice Da Silva Aguiar, a Year 4 pupil at Churchtown, and Bebe King, a former pupil.

“Alice was the happiest of souls, a true ray of sunshine. She was known and loved by everyone in our school community of 700 children, a testament to her unique ability to connect with others.

“Bebe was a joyful girl, whose kindness radiated through the entire Churchtown community. During her time at the school, Bebe’s considerate nature and her love of learning shone through in everything that she did.”

Ms Payne added that a “number” of other children from Churchtown were involved in the attack, as well as colleagues.

Heartbroken friends and family paid tribute to Alice earlier today, saying she was killed by a “despicable human being”.

Bebe and Elsie, aged six and seven , were identified as the first victims in the attack just before midday yesterday.

Eight other children suffered stab wounds and five were in fighting for their life, alongside two adults who were critically injured, police said.

The fully booked club for children, which was advertised as a dance and yoga workshop, as well as bracelet-making, quickly became something “like a horror movie”, witnesses to the deadly stabbings have said.

What we know so far…

• Three children have died after being stabbed
• Eight other children were injured and five are in critical condition
• Two adults are also in critical condition after bravely trying to save the youngsters
• Two yoga teachers heroically helped save some of the kids from the attacker
• Armed police were called to the scene on Hart Street, Southport, at 11.50am
• A 17-year-old boy has been detained and a knife seized
• Chilling footage shows an individual pacing outside a house before the attack
• Patients have been taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Aintree University Hospital and Southport and Formby Hospital
• The attack is understood to have taken place at a Taylor Swift-themed event
• The singer has said she is in “complete shock”

Teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, is understood to be fighting for her life in hospital after “bravely trying to protect” kids at the Hart Space Studios.

Her colleague Heidi, also 35, escaped uninjured after heroically locking some of the children inside a toilet to keep them safe.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Hayes, 63, ran into the dance studio and tried to fend off the attacker moments after hearing screams from his nearby office and was stabbed in the leg.

A video obtained by ITV shows an individual wearing a green hoodie and face mask pacing back and forth outside the front door.

The doorbell footage then shows several police cars and a group of officers, including some who are armed, appearing at the same house.

A staff member at the Hart Space, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she heard the suspect was wearing a “black hood” when he reportedly stabbed multiple children.

Horror attack timeline

Monday, July 29

10am

Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance workshop begins at The Hart Space in Hart Street

11.47am

Police are called to reports of a stabbing and a major incident is declared

Emergency services later say the scene was “horrific” and “chaotic” as they arrived at the children’s club

5.25pm

Police say 17-year-old male was arrested, before later clarifying he had been detained on suspicion of murder and attempted murder

7.18pm

Police confirm two young children, aged six and seven, have died following the horror attack

Tuesday, July 30

8.30am

Police confirm the suspect remains in custody and continues to be questioned

10.30am

Taylor Swift posts tribute on Instagram, saying she is “completely in shock”

12.30pm

Police confirm a third child, a nine-year-old girl, has died in hospital

3.20pm

Cops named Bebe King, six, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, as victims of attack

Locals said the suspect had got out of a taxi minutes before noon before his launching his attack.

He accessed the Hart Space Studios because a door was left open amid sweltering heat.

Police have said that, although the motive for the attack is unclear, it is not believed to be terror-related.

Taylor Swift said she is “completely in shock” after the “horror” of the knife attack.

Alice’s mum Alexandra Aguiar is understood to hail originally from Caracas in Venezuela and her dad David Aguiar is from Madeira.

Relative Carina Aguiar said in an emotional tribute: “Princess Alice. In this moment of great pain my soul hurts, my body hurts, my mind hurts. I have a lump in my throat.

What a huge tragedy. My pretty and innocent angel. Such tremendous pain.

Liliana Soares Family friend of Alice

“You were just an innocent child, a happy smiley girl with a bright life ahead of you which a despicable human being took away from you, without pity, for no reason.

“Look after your mum and dad who are suffering, who are desolate and broken. Fly high our little star. I love you.”

Hotel worker, Carina, who lives in Camara de Lobos in Madeira, posted a link on her social media to news Merseyside Police had confirmed a third child had died following the attack and wrote tear emoticons beside it.

Earlier she posted a photo of a black ribbon on her Facebook alongside Alice’s name.

Friend Claudia Trindade responded by saying: “Have strength. Let my dear God console the hearts of her parents.”

Magda Fernandes said: “I have no words. My condolences to the whole family. Lots of strength at this difficult hour.”

Merseyside Police's latest statement:

Merseyside Police can confirm the names of the three girls who were tragically killed in Southport on Monday.

They are Bebe King, six; Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.

Their families, who are being supported by specialist officers, have issued photographs and have asked that their privacy is respected at this time.

Bebe King’s family have shared the following tribute: “No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as try to deal with the loss of our little girl Bebe.”

The family of Alice Dasilva Aguiar paid this tribute: “Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our Princess, like we said before to you, you’re always our princess and no one would change that. Love from Your Hero Daddy and Mummy.”

Liliana Soares wrote: “What a huge tragedy. My pretty and innocent angel. Such tremendous pain.

“My sincerest condolences Carina to the whole family.”

Another family friend, Henrique Drummond, wrote on social media in a direct message to Alice’s parents: “David Aguiar, Alexandra Aguiar.

“Life is so cruel that an animal takes the life of children, especially our Alice. Lots of strength in these extremely difficult moments.”

Portuguese Foreign Ministry sources confirmed today a Portuguese girl had died.

One said: “ Portugal ‘s Consul General in Manchester is assisting the family, having spoken to her parents, and is continuing to offer them all the support they need.”

No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as we try to deal with the loss of our little girl Bebe.

Bebe's family

Jose Cesario, the Secretary of State for the Portuguese Communities, told a Portuguese TV station today: “Unfortunately a child who is the daughter of Portuguese parents originally from Madeira has died.

“She was born on October 14, 2014, and was nine years old. She was one of the victims of this awful crime. The family lives in Southport.

“The parents are in a state of shock. We are going to continue to give them the support they need, we are in direct contact with an aunt of the young girl.

“The priority is to give them all the moral support they need and afterwards things depend on the family and where they want to hold the funeral.”

Police said earlier today: “Sadly we can confirm that a third child has passed away as a result of injuries sustained in a knife attack in Southport yesterday morning, Monday 29 July.

“The nine-year-old girl died in hospital in the early hours of this morning, Tuesday, 30 July.

Prime Minister pays his respects

Sir Keir Starmer this afternoon shook the hands of emergency services after saying he wanted to give them a personal thank you for their efforts yesterday.

The Prime Minister spoke to the group as he laid floral tributes near the scene, that claimed the lives of three innocent girls.

Sir Keir said: “I know you would go and face any situation that was put in front of you, you do it every day.

“But there’s no pretending that what you dealt with 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’m incredibly proud of what you did.

“I’m amazed, but not surprised, that you’re in today, carrying on with your duties.

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

“I don’t want you to think for a minute the rest of the country has not seen that.”

Speaking to media during his visit to Southport, Sir Keir said: “I came here to pay my respects to the victims and families who are going through raw pain and grief that most of us can’t imagine – I can’t imagine, as a dad myself.

“To get a briefing from the chief constable and the emergency services about the ongoing investigation but, also, importantly, to have the opportunity to say to those that were responding yesterday from emergency services, say a personal thank you to them and to shake their hand, and to say that as Prime Minister on behalf of the country, we are grateful for what they did.

“They, of course, say that they will respond, they’re professionals, to anything, but there’s no pretending that what they had to respond to yesterday was ordinary.

“It was very, very difficult. They were absolutely professional. And it was important for me to come and say simple words – thank you.”

“We can confirm that the children who died yesterday were girls aged six and seven years.

“Eight other children suffered stab wounds sustained during the attack, and five of them are in a critical condition.

“Two adults are also in a critical condition after being injured during the incident.

“Our specialist Family Liaison Officers are providing support to the families at this terrible time.

“Yesterday, officers arrested a 17-year-old male from Banks and he remains in police custody.

“A name has been shared on social media in connection with the suspect in the incident in Southport.

“This name is incorrect and we would urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing.

“This incident is not currently being treated as terror-related and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with it.”

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Ian Leonard

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