A 12-year-old has become the youngest person convicted in connection with the Southport riots, which erupted after the tragic stabbing of three young girls. The boy, who cannot be named due to his age, admitted to violent disorder at Liverpool Youth Court on August 12, 2024. The disturbances followed the fatal stabbing of Bebe King, Alice da Silva Aguiar, and Elsie Dot Stancombe at a dance class on July 29.

Following the stabbings, riots broke out, causing injuries to over 50 police officers as approximately 1,000 people gathered outside a mosque due to misinformation. The riots led to nearly 1,000 arrests and 546 charges across the UK. In addition to the 12-year-old, another boy of the same age was convicted of violent disorder in Manchester.

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The court has also seen other individuals charged and convicted for their roles in the unrest. Notably, Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Conservative Party councillor, has been accused of inciting violence against asylum seekers through social media. Meanwhile, other suspects, like James Aspin and Thomas Ward, face charges related to stirring racial hatred and disrupting public order.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson assured that the government remains committed to addressing the unrest, emphasizing that the justice system is working swiftly to resolve the situation and restore safety in affected communities.