Inquests into the fatal stabbing of three girls at a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport are scheduled to begin today. Bebe King, 6, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, were killed, and others were injured on July 29. The inquests will be formally opened at Bootle Town Hall in Merseyside.
This follows a church service for Alice, held at St Patrick’s Church in Southport on Tuesday afternoon, where she was remembered as “the most beautiful, strongest girl in the world.”
Read more: UK Riots Break Out After a Stabbing Spree Was Wrongly Blamed on Asylum Seekers
Tributes were read in both English and Portuguese, and Alice’s classmates described her as the kindest and strongest person they knew.
Floral tributes have been placed at the attack scene on Hart Street, and several vigils have been held in honor of the girls. Merseyside Police are providing support to the families involved.
Axel Rudakubana, who turns 18 today, is due to stand trial next year on charges including three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder, and possession of a bladed article.
The attack also led to misinformation and violent disturbances across the UK, with around 400 people detained and approximately 100 charged, according to director of public prosecutions Stephen Parkinson.
