The British city of Southampton is mourning the loss of three children after a fatal knife attack in which several people were seriously injured. After last night's vigil for the victims, there were serious riots by right-wing extremists.
In Southampton, Great Britain, three girls were killed in a knife attack on Monday: six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsi Dot Stenkomb and nine-year-old Elis Dasilva Aguiar. The names were announced by the police and pictures of the children were published - with the approval of the parents.
Another eight children and two adults were injured, some of them seriously. The children, who are on vacation, participated in a workshop where everything revolved around the mega star Taylor Swift.
After the attack, a 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. The motive remains unclear. But the police do not assume that it is not a terrorist act, writes DPA.
Speculations about the origin of the perpetrator
Shortly after the attack, rumors about the origin of the suspect began to spread, according to the police.
"We have already reported that the person was born in Great Britain and speculation is not helping anyone at the moment," the investigators emphasized.
The young suspect has lived in the area for more than ten years. His parents are from Rwanda, and they live in the Welsh capital, Cardiff.
However, on Tuesday evening there were serious riots.
Stones at the mosque
The riots, which police say are behind supporters of the far-right and Islamophobic English Defense League, began hours after a vigil for knife attack victims and just a few streets away from where the vigil was held. There is also a mosque nearby.
Participants threw bricks at the mosque, set fire to cars and trash cans, and damaged and looted a local store, police said.
A total of 39 police officers were injured. Of these, 27 were taken to the hospital, and 12 were treated and discharged on the spot, the Emergency Service announced.
Assistant Police Chief Alex Goss said it was "sickening" that this was happening within a "devastated" community.
He said the police force had faced "serious violence" and that he was "so proud to witness those who were not on duty returning to support their colleagues, who had shown such courage while under constant and unrelenting attack ".
The government condemned the riots
The British government has condemned the unrest by right-wing extremist groups. "Those who disrupted the vigil for the victims with violence and brutality have insulted the grieving community," Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote on IX. "You will feel the full force of the law."
The Labor politician previously met with rescuers, who were deployed when the knife attack took place, and thanked them for their help. Minister of the Interior Yvet Cooper was also there. She stressed that the new government would take consistent action against widespread knife violence in the UK.
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