Southport: At an emotional funeral for their daughter, the parents of Alice da Silva Aguiar, one of three girls murdered at a Taylor Swift-themed event in northern England last month, appealed for an end to the nationwide rioting that erupted in the wake of their daughter’s death. Alice, 9, along with two other girls, was killed and eight others were injured in a stabbing attack at a Southport event two weeks ago.
Following the attack, riots spread across Southport and other UK towns and cities, ignited by misleading online posts incorrectly identifying the suspect as an Islamist migrant. A British-born teenager has since been charged, and police have clarified that the incident is not being treated as terrorism.
During Aguiar’s funeral, Merseyside Chief Constable Serena Kennedy addressed the congregation, relaying a message from Alice’s grieving Portuguese parents, Sergio and Alexandra, who had asked for a public appeal for calm.
“You have shown great courage in asking me to be here today … to give a message from you, Alice’s family, to say that you do not want there to be any more violence on the streets of the United Kingdom in the name of your daughter,” Kennedy said. “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. And I hope that anyone who has taken part in the violent disorder on our streets over the past 13 days, is hanging their heads in shame at the pain that they have caused you, a grieving family.”
Over 900 arrests have been made, with 466 individuals charged in connection to the disorder, which primarily targeted migrants and Muslims. Many of those charged have already been sentenced as cases are expedited through the courts. Police and politicians believe that the swift and severe response, along with the thousands who have participated in counter-protests since Wednesday, has dissuaded further violence. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the unrest as “far-right thuggery” and has cancelled holiday plans to address the situation, with more arrests and charges anticipated in the coming months. Justice Minister Shabana Mahmood warned that the impact on the already overburdened judicial system would be felt for years.
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At Aguiar’s poignant funeral, her white coffin adorned with pink flowers was transported to the church in a white horse-drawn carriage, as hundreds of local residents applauded along the streets. In a tribute read by the girl’s uncle, her parents expressed their profound grief: “You were taken away from us too soon, and we often ask why? Why here? Why us? Why you? 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. Mommy and daddy will always, always love you.”
Two other victims, Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, were also killed. Bebe’s parents issued a statement revealing that her death had devastated their family and that her older sister Genie had witnessed the attack but managed to escape.
Political and police leaders have attributed the violence to online disinformation. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced that schoolchildren will be taught to identify fake news and harmful conspiracy theories proliferating on social media. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has reached out to the Association of British Insurers to ensure prompt compensation for businesses affected by the riots.
