Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Parents of girl murdered in Southport plead for end to riots

Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, was one of three girls who died, along with eight others who were injured, in a stabbing attack in Southport two weeks ago.

Parents of girl murdered in Southport plead for end to riots

THE PARENTS of one of the three girls killed at a Taylor Swift-themed event in Southport last month have called for an end to the nationwide rioting that followed their deaths.

The appeal was made during the emotional funeral of their young daughter.


Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, was one of three girls who died, along with eight others who were injured, in a stabbing attack at the event in Southport two weeks ago.

Riots erupted in Southport and spread to towns and cities across the country, fueled by false online claims that wrongly identified the suspected attacker as an Islamist migrant. A teenager, who was born in Britain, has since been charged, and police have confirmed that the incident is not being treated as terrorism.

At Aguiar's funeral, the local police chief conveyed a public appeal for calm from her grieving parents, Sergio and Alexandra.

"You have shown great courage in asking me to be here today to deliver a message from you, Alice's family, to say that you do not want any more violence on the streets of the United Kingdom in the name of your daughter," said Merseyside chief constable Serena Kennedy.

"I am ashamed, and I'm so sorry that you had to even consider this in the planning of the funeral of your beautiful daughter Alice. I hope that anyone who has taken part in the violent disorder over the past 13 days is hanging their heads in shame at the pain they have caused you, a grieving family."

More than 900 people have been arrested, and 466 charged with offences related to the disorder, mainly targeting migrants and Muslims. Many have already been sentenced and jailed as cases are fast-tracked through the courts.

Authorities believe that the swift and firm response, along with thousands attending counter-protests, has discouraged further protests, which Keir Starmer condemned as "far-right thuggery."

Starmer has canceled his holiday plans to manage the response, with more arrests and charges expected in the coming months, according to prosecutors. Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood noted that the impact on the judicial system would be felt for years.

At Aguiar's funeral, her white coffin, covered in pink flowers, was brought to the church in a white horse-drawn carriage as hundreds of locals lined the streets in applause.

"You were taken away from us too soon, and we often ask why? Why here? Why us? Why you?" her parents said in a tribute read by the girl's uncle.

"We will never get over this pain, but 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 ... For now, our beloved angel, keep dancing. Mummy and daddy will always, always love you."

Two other girls, Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, were also killed. Bebe's parents issued a statement on Saturday saying her death had shattered their world and revealed that her older sister Genie had witnessed the attack and managed to escape.

Politicians and police have blamed online disinformation for fueling the violence. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced that schoolchildren would be taught how to identify fake news and "putrid conspiracy theories" on social media.

Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has written to the Association of British Insurers to ensure that compensation to shops damaged by rioting is paid swiftly.

(With inputs from Reuters)

More For You

Brothers deny assaulting police during Manchester Airport brawl

Photo for representation. (iStock)

Brothers deny assaulting police during Manchester Airport brawl

TWO brothers accused of assaulting a man inside a Starbucks and later attacking police officers at Manchester Airport are standing trial, with the prosecution arguing they used "unlawful and extreme violence".

Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and his older brother Muhammad Amaad, 26, both from Rochdale, are said to have acted aggressively on July 23 last year while at the airport to pick up their mother, who had arrived on a flight from Qatar.

Keep ReadingShow less
Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case
Bhim Kohli

Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case

THE seven-year prison sentence handed to a 15-year-old boy convicted of the manslaughter of 80-year-old Bhim Sen Kohli is to be reviewed under the UK’s Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

The Attorney General’s Office confirmed on Friday (5) that the teenager’s sentence will now be considered by the Court of Appeal.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dalai Lama hopes to live 'beyond 130 years'

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama attends a prayer meet held for his long life at the Dalai Lama temple in the northern hill town of Dharamshala, India, July 5, 2025. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis

Dalai Lama hopes to live 'beyond 130 years'

THE Dalai Lama said on Saturday (5) he hopes to live until he is more than 130 years old, two decades longer than his previous prediction, following his assurance to followers that he would reincarnate as the spiritual head of the faith upon his death.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner was speaking during a ceremony organised by his followers to offer prayers for his long life, ahead of his 90th birthday on Sunday (6), and as China insists it will choose his successor. The Dalai Lama told Reuters in December he might live to 110.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK heatwave by mid-July

Daytime temperatures meeting or exceeding set thresholds of 25°C

iStock

Met Office warns of potential third UK heatwave by mid-July

Key points

  • Met Office forecasts rising temperatures by mid-July
  • Possible third heatwave after record-breaking June
  • High pressure system likely to bring hot air from the Atlantic
  • Yellow rain warning and flood alerts issued in parts of Scotland and Cumbria

Possible heatwave to return by mid-July

The UK could experience its third heatwave in a month by mid-July, the Met Office has said. Forecasters expect rising heat and humidity during the second weekend of July, following two weekends of unusually warm weather in late June.

June was officially the hottest on record in England, and the return of high temperatures could mean another heatwave for parts of the country. However, the Met Office cautioned that it is too early to confirm how hot conditions will get.

Keep ReadingShow less
crypto

Two men have been jailed for defrauding investors of £1.5 million through a fake crypto investment scheme. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Two jailed over £1.5m crypto investment scam

TWO people who duped investors of £1.5 million by selling fake investments in crypto have been jailed for 12 years, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said.

Raymondip Bedi, of Bromley, and Patrick Mavanga, of Peckham, conned at least 65 people by cold-calling them between February 2017 and June 2019. They operated companies including CCX Capital and Astaria Group LLP.

Keep ReadingShow less