LONDON: Following the death of a third child in a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in northern England, violence erupted outside a mosque in Southport on Tuesday.

The violence appears to stem from false online accusations regarding the identity of a 17-year-old arrested in connection with the tragic stabbings that resulted in the death of three young children.

A vigil for the victims was to be held in the town on Tuesday. Nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar died in hospital early on Tuesday, police said, while Bebe King aged six and Elsie Dot Stancombe aged seven, were the two who died on Monday.

However, incorrect names and misleading information about the suspect’s background have been widely shared on social media.

Merseyside Police have condemned the “sickening” violence that erupted when a large group, reportedly supporters of the English Defence League, began attacking the mosque. Items were thrown, police vehicles were set on fire, and officers faced physical assaults, including one suffering a suspected broken nose. Bottles and wheelie bins were also hurled at police responding to the chaos.

Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss addressed the situation, saying: “There has been much speculation and hypothesis around the status of a 17-year-old male who is currently in police custody, and some individuals are using this to bring violence and disorder to our streets. We have already said that the person arrested was born in the UK, and speculation helps nobody at this time.”

Despite police clarification that the unnamed suspect is from Wales, rumours falsely claiming he was an asylum seeker who arrived by boat have fuelled the unrest. Merseyside Police continue to urge calm and condemn the racially charged misinformation that has exacerbated the situation.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2024