A photo of a nine-year-old girl killed in the Southport stabbings at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop has been released from the day of the attack.
Alice da Silva Aguiar is seen next to a cardboard cutout of Taylor Swift at the Hart Space community centre on the morning of July 29.
Her parents Sergio and Alexandra released the photo as her coffin was brought to her funeral in a white carriage pulled by two horses today.
Alice was one of the three young girls killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29.
Hundreds of people lined the streets of the Merseyside town to watch the cortege go past and pay their respects.
Two more charges over Sunderland riots
Ben Ashton
Two more men have been charged in connection with rioting in Sunderland on August 2.
It brings the total of people charged by Northumbria Police to 17.
Ashley Mark Wilkinson, 35, of Porter Terrace, Murton, Durham, has been charged with violent disorder, relating to the events in Sunderland.
He was also charged with possessing articles with intent to cause criminal damage and possession of a Class B Drug, relating to protest activity in Newcastle on Saturday.
John Paul Kirtley, 26, of Rutherglen Road, Sunderland, has been charged with violent disorder.
Both men will appear at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.
Alice’s ‘seven qualities’ described by headteacher – including ‘respect, equality and family’
Ben Ashton
Alice da Silva Aguiar’s headteacher Jinnie Payne rounded off her tearful speech at the nine-year-old’s funeral by listing through her ‘seven qualities’.
Ms Payne told mourners: ‘Number one, to have a big smile. Not to smile big, there is a difference. Alice wore a natural smile every day, it wasn’t forced and it wasn’t put on. It was everywhere she went. It was her best friend.
‘Number two, polite and respectful. Alice’s manners took her everywhere. She showed politeness, not just ‘thank you’, but always ‘thank you’ with a reason attached.
‘Number three, to have interest in others, genuine interest and being inquisitive. Alice asked lots of questions and she remembered things about you.
‘She remembered the names of your children, she remembered where you went on holiday, so you had to be very careful about what you told Alice.
‘Number four, equality, I love this one. This has to be my favourite, how a child at such a young age could not favour one other friend over another. Friends, she played equally with them all. That is so hard to do, and she mastered it.
‘(Number five), enthusiasm for life. Alice wanted to do everything there was on offer and she seized those opportunities and you (her parents) provided them for Alice.
‘But along with those opportunities is number six. She did support and guide. So if she felt things weren’t up to her standard she would tell you, and she would then help you put it right.
‘Finally, the number seven is family. Alice’s words, ‘it doesn’t matter who your family are as long as they love each other’, and Alice did that.’
Headteacher pays tearful tribute to ‘polite’ girl with ‘big smile’
Ben Ashton
Alice da Silva Aguiar’s headteacher paid an emotional tribute to the nine-year-old at her funeral, tearfully saying ‘teach those angels a few dance moves’.
Jinnie Payne, Alice’s headteacher at Churchtown Primary School in Southport, said the youngster’s smile and enthusiasm for life were among her ‘seven qualities’.
Ms Payne read a poem about her pupil, called Here Comes Alice, in which she mentioned how Alice once decorated a teacher’s pointer to look like a magic wand.
Finishing it, she fought back tears and said: ‘The time has come to say ‘there goes Alice’. We are letting you go dancing now, Alice. Teach those angels a few dance moves.
‘Keep daydreaming, Alice, it’s a magical place to be, in your own thoughts. Make magic every day with your teacher pointer, Alice, and we will feel the power of your magic ability.
‘Let your beaming smile guide you, Alice, and shine brightly on us all.’
Ms Payne told of ‘Alice qualities’, which she wished ‘every child’ at her school could have. The headteacher said the qualities ‘were in abundance’ and ‘came naturally to her’, demonstrating the youngster’s ‘character’.
Family release adorable video of Southport stabbing victim Alice da Silva Aguiar
Ben Ashton
Up Next
Alice da Silva Aguiar’s family have released this recent video of her chatting away to the camera.
They’ve shared the footage following her funeral in Southport today.
It shows the nine-year-old talking about the make-up she’s put on herself.
‘Hey guys, today it’s me,’ she says. ‘I’ve got my make-up on to test my teacher. Look at this.
‘And now guys, thank you for watching all my videos. Look at my eye shadows.’
She rounds off the clip by saying: ‘Bye guys, see you later, bye.’
‘Keep dancing’: Final words from Alice da Silva Aguiar’s mother at funeral
Ben Ashton
These are the final words from an extremely emotional speech by Alice da Silva Aguiar’s parents today.
‘From time to time, the pin drops,’ her mother Alexandra said. ‘When mummy says ‘good night, Sergio, good night Alice’ and then it hits us all over again. We don’t hear you back.
‘Moving forward will be hard. Some days are better than others, but none will be perfect.
‘Some moments we are weak and we say wild things. But we made a promise to always be there for each other in moments of despair, a pinky promise.
‘We share a strong bond and we’ll always have each other to rely on. We won’t be alone.
‘We are surrounded by a wonderful community and their full support, family and friends, neighbours, work colleagues, the wonderful servicemen and women who serve the community, your school, your church and all your friends and their parents.
‘We have the full support of the country and the privilege of multiplying that by two. For that, we’re thankful.
‘For now, our beloved angel, keep dancing, mummy and daddy will always, always love you.’
Mum reveals gut-wrenching pain of Alice da Silva Aguiar’s last moments
Ben Ashton
Alice da Silva Aguiar’s mother Alexandra has revealed more details about the unimaginable pain of losing a daughter.
In a speech at the nine-year-old’s funeral today, she said: ‘A day before your final struggle, mummy kept asking if you were okay. So much so that you and daddy asked ‘why?’
‘A part of me wondered if I was being too British. But ultimately, I realised I always wanted to know that you were okay. Now, daddy feels sorry for mummy, she has seen things no human should.’
Alexandra also explained how she has so many questions that may never be answered as she and her husband Sergio, Alice’s father, come to terms with their heartbreak.
She added: ‘You were taken away from us too soon and we often ask why? Why here? Why us? Why you? We wonder if you ever thought of us. Called for us. We wondered if you felt any pain. We hope not my darling.
‘We then question could this have been avoided? Could we have stopped it somehow… we will never get over this pain. We promise to get all the answers. Mummy has seen too much, and we need to know.
‘We feel shocked, unimaginable pain, we miss you.’
‘We will never see you grow up’, say Alice’s parents
Ben Ashton
Alice da Silva Aguiar’s parents made a wonderful, albeit heartbreaking speech at their nine-year-old daughter’s funeral today.
The family have also released a number of pictures of Alice begore her tragic death in Southport.
Here’s a look at more of what Sergio and Alexandra said during the ceremony: ‘You were born and raised into love and we loved cuddling you every night for almost nine years. Apart from the sleepovers and nights away with your friends, we were never apart.
‘You liked to sleep with mummy and daddy, enjoyed shutting the curtains and watching Disney Plus with popcorn. Our room was your comfort place. You were our comfort and peace.
‘As you were growing up from a princess to a pre-teen, we began to notice some changes, seeing your independence take shape.
‘From your skincare regime to playing with makeup, to your dedication to school, to dance and to your faith.
‘Your to-do-list was extensive and we were sure that you would achieve it if only you had the time.
‘We talked about which high school you might attend, about growing up, having a big house and a garden and having children. Children who we will never help you raise. It hurts. We will never see you grow up.’
Alice da Silva Aguiar’s parents make heartbreaking speech at funeral
Ben Ashton
Alice da Silva Aguiar’s mum Alexandra described her daughter as ‘our perfect dream child’ in a heartbreaking speech at her funeral today.
‘Everything was idyllic from the moment you arrived,’ she said.
The couple said Alice was dedicated to dance during a tribute at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Southport today.
‘A good girl, with strong values and kind nature,’ they said. ‘A lover of animals and an environmentalist in the making. You moved our world with your confidence and empathy. Playful energetic, friendly, and always so respectful.
‘A peacemaker of the playground. No shouting is a house rule you applied. A big task for a small girl, especially in a Portuguese household.
‘Being around you was a privilege, we cherished every milestone. You completed us.
‘In nine short years we never needed time off from you. We never gave up our time for anything that didn’t involve you too. And if we did, we’d always do it separately so you could have one of us always next to you.’
Last photo of Alice da Silva Aguiar
The family of Alice da Silva Aguiar have released the last photograph of the nine-year-old taken hours before she died at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
The pupil can be seen standing in a doorway of the Hart Space community centre, where the Southport stabbing took place on July 29, and beaming as she poses next to a cardboard cut out of the singer.
She was one of the three girls who died after several children were injured in the attack.
Her parents, Sergio and Alexandra, released the new picture on the day of her funeral in the Merseyside town.
Situation in England has ‘somewhat stabilised’, police chief says
Craig Munro
The disorder seen in recent days has ‘somewhat stabilised’ in England, the National Police Chiefs’ Council head of public order has said.
Chief Constable BJ Harrington said the same about Scotland and Wales – where violence has been minimal – but added that the situation in Northern Ireland remains volatile.
He said: ‘Policing continues to stand strong and unified, with hard work and dedication from all of our workforce in the face of daily challenges.
‘The situation in England, Scotland and Wales has somewhat stabilised over the last few days, but our colleagues in Northern Ireland have overnight experienced awful violence with significant injuries experienced by officers on the front line and we are doing all we can to support them.
‘We have seen and continue to see bravery and the utmost professionalism from our officers, staff and volunteers in dealing with these abhorrent incidents of violent disorder.
‘No-one should have to face the prospect of injury or abuse in their work, and our thoughts are with all of those who have suffered injuries in the course of their duties.
‘We are working around the clock to bring offenders to justice and ensure the safety of our communities.’
Reform voters stand out in opinions of riots
Craig Munro
A poll by More In Common has sought to find the opinions of various voting groups on the events of the past week.
The results show that one party sticks out from the others: Reform UK.
Among Reform voters polled, 56% said the riots and protests were borne from ‘legitimate concerns from those worried about immigration to the UK’.
Just 25% of Conservative voters said the same thing – the second-highest percentage by party.
More than two-fifths of Reform supporters also said those participating in the riots and protests ‘speak for me’, compared to 16% of Conservatives and 14% of Labour backers.
What do people think the motivation for the riots are? About 23% say legitimate concerns about immigration, around a third say far right ideology and racism, but the biggest group – nearly half say a desire to engage in violence and criminal damage. pic.twitter.com/MumnE3hLgU
— Luke Tryl (@LukeTryl) August 11, 2024
More results from the poll can be found in the thread from More In Common’s UK director Luke Tryl above.
Service plays on loudspeakers for hundreds gathered outside
Craig Munro
The funeral service of Alice da Silva Aguiar is now taking place in St Patrick’s church on Southport’s Marshside Road.
Loudspeakers have allowed the hundreds of mourners gathered outside to hear what is said.
Around 30 uniformed police officers were among those who lined the streets of the Merseyside town, beside lampposts decorated with pink ribbons and balloons.
They applauded as the cortege made its way past, led by a white carriage pulled by two white horses sporting orange and white plumes.
Mourners line the streets of Southport for funeral
People have started the line the streets of Southport as friends and family of Alice da Silva Aguiar attend her funeral.
The nine-year-old was one of three youngsters killed on July 29 at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the Merseyside town.
Mourners could be seen dressed in white as they lined the streets leading up to the funeral at St Patrick’s Church.
They appeared to fall silent as her coffin, which was carried in a white horse-drawn carriage, made its way towards the funeral.
Kids will be taught to spot online misinformation
Craig Munro
Children will be taught the best ways to spot online misinformation in school after fake news was partially blamed for spawning this week’s riots.
Anti-immigration protests erupted after a false story spread on social media, claiming the person responsible for the Southport attack was a Muslim who had arrived in the UK on a small boat.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said she was launching a review of the curriculum in England to see how such lessons might be incorporated.
In English, Pupils might analyse newspaper articles to help weed out fabricated clickbait from true reporting.
In computer lessons, they could be taught how to spot fake news sites and maths lessons might include analysing statistics in context.
Phillipson told The Telegraph: ‘It’s more important than ever that we give young people the knowledge and skills to be able to challenge what they see online.
‘That’s why our curriculum review will develop plans to embed critical skills in lessons to arm our children against the disinformation, fake news and putrid conspiracy theories awash on social media.’
Archbishop of Canterbury says far-right protests are ‘unchristian’
Craig Munro
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has condemned the violence in UK towns over recent days as ‘racist’.
In a comment piece for the Observer, the Church of England’s top cleric expressed his horror at the use of Christian imagery by the far right, calling it ‘an offence to our faith’.
He continued: ‘Let me say clearly now to Christians that they should not be associated with any far-right group – because those groups are unchristian.
‘Let me say clearly now to other faiths, especially Muslims, that we denounce people misusing such imagery as fundamentally antichristian.’
More charges announced as prison space freed up
Craig Munro
We’ve got three more announcements of charges from police forces in Somerset and Northumbria.
Philip Cawthorne, 38, was charged with one count of violent disorder and appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, where he pleaded guilty to his role in the disorder.
Jack Fowler, 24, has been charged with one count of violent disorder and will appear at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning.
Both were linked to the recent unrest in Sunderland.
Meanwhile, Jamie Easterbrook, 43, was also charged with committing violent disorder after he was arrested at his Bristol home on Saturday night.
Boy, 15, becomes first child convicted over riots in Sunderland
Craig Munro
A 15-year-old boy has admitted playing a role in violent disorder in Sunderland earlier this week.
He becomes the first child to be convicted over the riots in the Tyne and Wear city.
The teen, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted one charge of violent disorder and the burglary of a business at South Tyneside Youth Court on Saturday.
He will next appear at the same court on Thursday.
Meanwhile, another 15-year-old boy from Toxteth has been charged with burglary in relation to disorder which took place in Liverpool city centre on Saturday August 3.
The boy has been remanded in custody to appear at Merseyside Youth Court on Monday.
Man arrested after video shared on social media
Craig Munro
A 30-year-old man has been arrested after a clip was shared on social media showing someone suspected of making threats to kill.
West Midlands Police said the arrest was made in Sparkbrook, Birmingham, yesterday evening after the video was brought to their attention.
‘We take swift and effective action against anyone who feels that they can use social media to stir racial hatred or to encourage people to cause violence or take actions into their own hands,’ the force said.
‘We would like to thank the public for making us aware of the video and want to reassure people that action has been taken.
‘We will not tolerate violence in our towns and cities, or tolerate those who use social media to encourage such violence.
‘Our commitment to the safety of all residents remains unwavering and we will continue to work closely with the community to uphold peace and maintain order.’
Northern Ireland secretary condemns violence
Craig Munro
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has condemned the attacks on police in Derry on Saturday.
As mentioned in our last post, 10 officers were injured in the city during demonstrations yesterday. One person has been arrested so far.
In a post on X, Benn said: ‘I’m appalled at the attacks on police in Derry/Londonderry last night.
‘My thanks to the PSNI for working to keep people safe and our thoughts are with the officers who were injured.’
Riots in Derry leave 10 police injured
Craig Munro
Fireworks and petrol bombs were used against police during riots in Derry that left 10 officers injured yesterday, PSNI has said.
Derry City & Strabane Superintendent William Calderwood described the scenes in the Northern Irish city as ‘disgraceful and senseless’.
He said one person has been arrested so far, and that ‘a robust investigation is underway to bring all those responsible for this violence to justice’.
The unrest seen across the UK in the past week continues to have an impact in Northern Ireland, with several incidents reported on Saturday.
In the early hours of yesterday morning, a petrol bomb was thrown at a mosque in Co Down in an incident described by police as racially motivated.
The mosque in Newtownards was attacked at around 1am, with graffiti sprayed on the front door and walls of the building in Greenwell Street.
Police said the petrol bomb did not ignite.
Thousands of people also took to the streets of Belfast yesterday for an anti-racism demonstration.
