around her at a dance class based around her music. she described her horror at the tragic events. in other news... the radical islamist preacher, anjem choudary, has beenjailed. angela rayner announces a new increase in new homes. and team gb target yet more medals. good afternoon. iam here i am here in southport where we now know a third child has died after

the attack in southport. you can see right now there are people you're from the local community who have been bringing flowers and laying them down. as i said, we now know three young girls aged nine, six and seven died. the nine—year—old died in hospital in the early hours. the six and seven—year—olds we already knew had died at the scene yesterday. currently, there are still five other children in a critical condition in hospital along with two adults. ai7—year—old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. he is from a village about three miles from a village about three miles from here. due to legal reasons, we are not allowed to name him because of his age. we do know that he came from the cardiff area. he has a brother and his parents were originally from rwanda. during the

morning, the home secretary, yvette cooper, has visited the scene, she laid flowers here along with the local mp, she said it was unimaginable what had happened. it was beyond every parent's worst nightmare. she acknowledged that there was deep concern about knife crime and said it was the prime minister, sir kier starmer�*s mission to address it. there have been several tributes paid and this one from taylor swift. —— said it was the prime minister, sir keir starmer�*s mission to address it. as you can imagine, the seaside town community has pulled together, we have seen not only flowers being

laid but we bringing up items for the police officers who have been standing at the cording, chocolates, soft drinks, even suncream for the officers here and the local football club, for example, has opened its doors and they have allowed people to come in and just to talk to councillors and later on this evening we are expecting a vigil. ourfirst report this evening we are expecting a vigil. our first report this our is from my colleague. frances read reports. quietly playing respects, the home secretary among those who have been here today, a moment's pause in a community that may never be able to understand why. it has been confirmed a third child has died, a nine—year—old girl, in addition to two girls aged six and seven. eight other children suffered stab wounds, five of them are critically ill. two adults are also in a critical condition. the horror unfolded at what was supposed to be a

fun taylor swift themed holiday workshop for primary schoolchildren. yoga, dancing, bracelet making in what is usually a safe space, a haven for pregnant women where baby and children's classes also take place. i think it isjust unimaginable what has happened, this devastating and horrific attack. all of our thoughts will be with the families who have been affected. loved ones who have been lost, and the children who are injured. it is really important that they get all of the support they need. the bbc understands that leanne lucas was among those attacks. the teacher running the workshop yesterday has been praised for her bravery, although her condition has not been confirmed by authorities. in a statement on instagram, taylor swift said:

com plete complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies for these families. the community here feel the same. when you hear news like this, it is so heartbreaking. the poor parents. children should be able to enjoy their summer holidays. and at the beginning of it, this tragedy has happened, and it is so utterly... you cannot describe in words how upsetting it is. people are in shock. people are fearful. southport is a small town, there will be i many, many people they - personally impacted by what happened here, but also, they will know the families, their. children will now be children . who were in that room when it happened. and we need to give them space to articulate their. emotions. a 17—year—old suspect who has been arrested was born in cardiff and moved to the southport area in 2013. his parents are from rwanda. the incident isn't being treated as terror—related. there is still a lot

to be figured out. the police said that they arrested one 17—year—old individual. they are not currently looking for anybody else, they don't believe there is anybody else related this. it is obviously complicated, the investigation, so they will now take some time now to figure out what happened and why it happened. specialist medical teams like those at the famous alder hey hospital continue to try to save as many lives as they can. there are more and more flowers as the day goes on, one with a pal saying: we cling to future hope so desperately needed here now. i have to say, one very poignant moment about 90 minutes ago where members of the local fire brigade turned up and they were some of the first people on the scene because their station is not very far from here and they laid some flowers

behind me and then walked away and you could see that they were visibly upset, some of them, because some of those were the people who were first on the scene here yesterday and we've heard locals describe the scene is like something out of a horror movie, they heard screams and the paramedics were trying to treat those young children on the ground, some of those were in tears, very, very traumatic time for all the emergency services that attended this scene yesterday. my colleague lauren moss is with me and has been here all day with me like i have. the terribly sad news we had a couple of hours ago that a nine—year—old girl died during the night but also the youngest victim so far just night but also the youngest victim so farjust six night but also the youngest victim so far just six years night but also the youngest victim so farjust six years old. yes. night but also the youngest victim so farjust six years old.— so far “ust six years old. yes, the two so farjust six years old. yes, the two other— so farjust six years old. yes, the two other victims _ so farjust six years old. yes, the two other victims died _ so farjust six years old. yes, the j two other victims died yesterday, two other victims died yesterday, two girls aged six and seven years old and like you said a third girl

died in hospital this morning from injuries, just nine. five other children still in critical condition and two adults which police they were injured while trying to protect children when the attack took place. yes, and referred about the teacher who organised this, leanne lucas. this, as we keep saying, was a holiday event and these events will be taking place up and down the country having young children we now aged between six and ii at this one. yes and this has been felt by families, people across the country dropping their kids off to holiday clubs and all sorts as dropping their kids off to holiday clubs and all sorts— dropping their kids off to holiday clubs and all sorts as we see of the summer, clubs and all sorts as we see of the summer. a — clubs and all sorts as we see of the summer, a general— clubs and all sorts as we see of the summer, a general thing _ clubs and all sorts as we see of the i summer, a general thing that occurs. this has caused realfear among summer, a general thing that occurs. this has caused real fear among the community, among wider public about that sort of thing and obviously with this incident, the police say this was isolated, there is no threat to the wider public but

undoubtedly the people and parents who drop children off at holiday clubs will be thinking about this and be feeling this very deeply, not just in southport but beyond and the dance teacher, yoga instructor you mentioned there, tributes being paid to her online saying her bravery has touched an entire nation and we know two adults are still in hospital fighting for their lives right now. what has come home to me is when i arrived and julie seen this morning, it was eerily quiet in this area, wasn't it? —— what has come home to me is when i arrived and you seen this morning, it was eerily quiet in this area, wasn't it? yes, it has been like at all day. we unfortunately have been at many crime scenes as journalists, it is part of what we do but to come here today and see the tributes which have quadrupled in size since we've been here this morning, young people

with their parents, young children coming with their parents, crying, wiping their eyes, others just shocked and wanting to do something to just tell the families affected they are thinking of them, they care, they've been affected but the harsh over here is a real heaviness that i think this whole area is carrying right now, the heaviness of what happened and lack of comprehension of what happened as well and you can really feel that, it was so clear when the home secretary came earlier and was led the police cordon, yvette through the police cordon, yvette cooper, to lay some flowers with the chief constable and she hugged the local mp and no one said a word, the media parties, public parted and let her through and it was just silence as we all watched her respectfully do that and i think nobody really knows what to say, that is the thing. i was reading some of the tributes and they say there are no words to sum up what happened here and that is exactly it, there are no

words that can quantify the devastation people are feeling. i can hear behind me one of our colleagues from rtl and this is resonating nationally, isn't it? yes, as you have said, taylor swift herself, a music event taking place, a dance event with her music. she has commented. nationally the king and queen commenting. the prince and princess of wales, this is notjust something people are talking about here on merseyside, which is a fairly close knit community anyway in the north west, it is internationally and it is rumbling on and will do for these as questions begin to be asked. what on and will do for these as questions begin to be asked. what we have seen is — questions begin to be asked. what we have seen is the _ questions begin to be asked. what we have seen is the community _ questions begin to be asked. what we have seen is the community pulling i have seen is the community pulling together. we have seen is the community pulling touether. ~ ~' ., have seen is the community pulling touether. ~ ~ ., ., , have seen is the community pulling touether. ~ ., ., , together. we know a vigil is taking lace this together. we know a vigil is taking place this evening _ together. we know a vigil is taking place this evening around - together. we know a vigil is taking place this evening around 6pm - together. we know a vigil is taking place this evening around 6pm i i place this evening around 6pm i think it is, a local charity a

couple of miles away holding a drop—in session for people as we speak. southport fc were due to play a preseason friendly this afternoon which has been cancelled as a mark of respect and they are holding drop—in sessions in the local church and that isjust drop—in sessions in the local church and that is just one of the small signs of how close knit this community is and you have been saying yourself, people coming down, please keep in constant watch here, changing shifts and members dropping them drinks so extremely hot down here, bringing them food and the media as well in some cases which is not something i have experienced very often before so there is a real sense of shock but also of understanding what the police are trying to do here with this ongoing crime scene. white met briefly, finally, this will impact... this particular road but this community notjust for particular road but this community not just for days but years ahead. it will and it will be felt for a

long time, potentially forever. we have yet to find out the details of fully what happened yesterday, the circumstances that led up to that, what is going to happen to the young people and adults being treated in hospital but at the end of the day, when the cameras leave, and the headlines move on, this community will not be able to do that. not the families affected to drop their children off to a club yesterday and not the people living on the street who saw what happened, they will have to live with that.— have to live with that. thank you for the moment. _ have to live with that. thank you for the moment. as _ have to live with that. thank you for the moment. as we - have to live with that. thank you for the moment. as we said, - have to live with that. thank you j for the moment. as we said, the have to live with that. thank you - for the moment. as we said, the big question is why and we do not have answers to that at the moment. we do know a 17—year—old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. the bbc news team have been working hard to try to pull together what we know and we return to the newsroom now with the

very latest, so what is the very latest that we know? here is daniel de simone. latest that we know? here is daniel de simone-— latest that we know? here is daniel de simone. ., . _, ., ~ de simone. police recovered a knife, the have de simone. police recovered a knife, they have subsequently _ de simone. police recovered a knife, they have subsequently searched - de simone. police recovered a knife, they have subsequently searched a i they have subsequently searched a house. the suspect was born in cardiff, as an older brother also born in cardiff and his parents are originally from rwanda in east africa. the family moved to southport area at just africa. the family moved to southport area atjust over ten years ago in 2013. in terms of the actual police investigation itself, with a crime such as murder, a serious offence such as murder, the police can apply to hold a suspect for longer than the 2a hours that the standard for other sorts of crimes and he has now been in custody for over 2a hours but we've yet to hear from the police that they have applied for a custody extension for up to 36 hours.

because we have not had any kind of munication around a charging decision, i assume they are still holding him now and the police can come in some cases, apply to hold a murder suspect for up to 96 hours before then making a charging decision. in terms of motive, police i think will be working very hard to try and understand what the motive is for this attack. that would require, as is typically, police are looking at digital devices, may be speaking to people close to a suspect to understand more about them and their mindset, how they have been leading up to something like this and the police have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and they've also said they are not currently treating this as a terrorist —related incident. what would happen in a case when it was a terror —related incident and police were confident of that, it would be a formal declaration by policing which has not happened and police have said as things stand they are

not treating it as a terrorist —related incident. not treating it as a terrorist -related incident.— not treating it as a terrorist -related incident. that is the one thin . -related incident. that is the one thin we -related incident. that is the one thing we do _ -related incident. that is the one thing we do know— -related incident. that is the one thing we do know and, _ -related incident. that is the one thing we do know and, daniel, i -related incident. that is the one i thing we do know and, daniel, when police are looking now to participate, they have now been right from when the incident happened, a lot of speculation. yes. happened, a lot of speculation. yes, a lot of wrong _ happened, a lot of speculation. yes a lot of wrong speculation, and happened, a lot of speculation. 123 a lot of wrong speculation, and even identifying people, suspects, people are not suspects, police are at pains to say that is very unhelpful, they would rather people did not do that. also in a suspect has been arrested, police are often at pains to say please do not do anything that could prejudice the case and it is something that people would be

encouraged not to do by police because it is very unhelpful to a prosecution. we have seen a lot of misinformation online. people in bbc verified looking at that, discounting it and being clear about what is false in what is true. there is more on — what is false in what is true. there is more on that _ what is false in what is true. there is more on that from _ what is false in what is true. there is more on that from a _ what is false in what is true. there is more on that from a bbc- what is false in what is true. there | is more on that from a bbc verified colleagues on the bbc news website where there is a special live page. the other thing the police will be looking for and have asked for is cctv and we have these video door bells, they will be trying to trace the movement of the suspect. then; the movement of the suspect. they will. the movement of the suspect. they will- nowadays _ the movement of the suspect. they will. nowadays there _ the movement of the suspect. they will. nowadays there is _ the movement of the suspect. tt2 will. nowadays there is so the movement of the suspect. tt21: will. nowadays there is so many the movement of the suspect. t"t21 will. nowadays there is so many cctv cameras around, people have them on their cars, cameras around, people have them on theircars, in cameras around, people have them on their cars, in their homes, people have phones on film things particularly when an incident like this happens so the police would ask

anyone who has any information of that kind to provide it to them, they would rather it was not posted online, they want to receive it to help them with their investigation and there will be a lot of officers involved in this, they will be looking at the root of the suspect, they will be trying to understand they will be trying to understand the movements of the suspect not just in the hours leading up to this end but in the days and weeks and months beforehand to try and understand emotive but the police are definitely keen to hear from anyone who has any information about this, any video evidence or any witnesses who saw anything themselves with their own eyes whether or not they have any camera, pictures or videos.— pictures or videos. daniel de simone in the newsroom _ pictures or videos. daniel de simone in the newsroom of _ pictures or videos. daniel de simone in the newsroom of the _ pictures or videos. daniel de simone in the newsroom of the latest - pictures or videos. daniel de simone in the newsroom of the latest on i pictures or videos. daniel de simone in the newsroom of the latest on the j in the newsroom of the latest on the investigation, thank you very much indeed. if you are just investigation, thank you very much indeed. if you arejustjoining us, the sad news this afternoon is that we now know that three young girls lost their lives in this incident

yesterday, a nine—year—old girl died in hospital in the early hours and the other victims, a six and seven—year—olds girl, five other children remain in a critical condition in hospital as due to adults. i mentioned earlier on the home secretary yvette cooper been down here, visiting the scene as i was discussing with my colleague lauren moss earlier, it was absolutely quiet when she did that, all you could hear was the sound of the clicking of cameras but journalists and members of the public all really quiet as she did that, no questions asked and honestly it did not feel right or appropriate to do that but the home secretary has given that after showing the senior. i want to play you what she said about the mass

stabbing yesterday here in southport. just listen. i think it is just southport. just listen. i think it isjust unimaginable southport. just listen. i think it is just unimaginable what has happened. this devastating and horrific attack and all of our thoughts will be with the families affected, love ones who had been lost and it is really important that they get all the support they need, they get all the support they need, they have been meeting with the police, fire service and paramedics who were there yesterday and who had to respond with great bravery to ensure more lives were not lost and i thank them for the work they did. there is also a serious criminal investigation under way and everyone is just praying for those children. you mentioned the investigation and we have a merseyside police yesterday it is not being treated as a terror incident, how do we know it is not terror related?—

is not terror related? there is a serious criminal— is not terror related? there is a serious criminal investigation i is not terror related? there is a i serious criminal investigation under way because this was a horrific attack. it is important the police pursue every single avenue and that is what police are now doing, i support them and that work but it is immensely important they must now continue that and they will provide updates, you will understand that i am not going to say anything that would cut across the investigation or prejudice that investigation as i take it immensely serious. itiui’ith or prejudice that investigation as i take it immensely serious.- take it immensely serious. with a knife crime _ take it immensely serious. with a knife crime epidemic _ take it immensely serious. with a knife crime epidemic at _ take it immensely serious. with a knife crime epidemic at the i take it immensely serious. with a i knife crime epidemic at the moment, you cannot listen to the news more than a week without hearing about something happening, what will your government do to try to tackle this issue and prevent attacks like this in our communities?— issue and prevent attacks like this in our communities? there will be deep distress _ in our communities? there will be deep distress right _ in our communities? there will be deep distress right across - in our communities? there will be deep distress right across the i deep distress right across the country as well as in southport for this appalling, truly horrific attack because it is beyond every and was �*s worst nightmare, you had

what should be a children's party, having fun at the beginning of the summer holidays, could then turn into something so devastating. there is obviously deep concern about knife attacks across the country and thatis knife attacks across the country and that is why the prime minister has said that as a moral mission to address this but i think for today theissue address this but i think for today the issue really is about southport and the issue is about the families who have been affected in this case and all of us praying for the injured children and the children who have been lost. t injured children and the children who have been lost.— injured children and the children who have been lost. i know we are running out _ who have been lost. i know we are running out of _ who have been lost. i know we are running out of time _ who have been lost. i know we are running out of time but _ who have been lost. i know we are running out of time but i _ who have been lost. i know we are running out of time but i want i who have been lost. i know we are running out of time but i want to l running out of time but i want to ask you if there is anything else you can add about the perpetrator, were they known to the authorities? merseyside police are leading this extremely important and serious criminal investigation, this was a horrific attack and they need to be able to get on with that work and they will provide us with updates. you will understand others should not be speculating or commenting an advance of those updates and we

really welcome the work of merseyside police and it is also important they pursue every single angle of inquiry but i think at the same time the police officers alongside pursuing that criminal investigation are also members of the community who talked to first responders today and the police officers who were there yesterday and you had to respond, they are also working in the community to support each other and support the community in the face of something so awful happening. that community in the face of something so awful happening.— community in the face of something so awful happening. that was yvette coo-er so awful happening. that was yvette cooper speaking _ so awful happening. that was yvette cooper speaking after _ so awful happening. that was yvette cooper speaking after laying - so awful happening. that was yvette cooper speaking after laying some i cooper speaking after laying some flowers here and while you are listening to what yvette cooper were saying three nhs nurses in the uniform havejust saying three nhs nurses in the uniform have just come and wait some flowers, you may be able to see that pink balloon that is there, they lay some flowers knew too where that pink balloon is. as you can see, the number of flowers and tributes has

grown over the morning and afternoon. when i arrive this afternoon, there was just a couple of bunches of flowers and you can now see there are dozens, there's balloons and also those cuddly toys that are on top of that road, we are on the crossroads between hart street and another street, which hart street is cordoned off at both ends. we have seen cordoned officers are no tell—tale white uniforms in the street and the will of course be an operation where the stabbing happened to give as much evidence as possible. we said that five children remain in critical condition in hospital as due to adults, they are being treated in a number of hospitals around the north west but some of the children are at alder hey hospital in liverpool which is a

children's hospital that is world—renowned for what they do. and my colleague has been at alder hey all morning and i asked him about the follow—up to the news that a nine—year—old girl had died during the night. we nine-year-old girl had died during the niuht. ~ ., ., ., the night. we were told that an u date the night. we were told that an update be _ the night. we were told that an update be given _ the night. we were told that an update be given and _ the night. we were told that an update be given and sadly i the night. we were told that an update be given and sadly that| update be given and sadly that update be given and sadly that update was when we did not want to receive which is that a nine—year—old girl has lost her life as a result of the terrible incident in southportjust as a result of the terrible incident in southport just about 2k hours ago. a nine—year—old girl who died sadly this morning joined by the six and seven—year—old girls who lost their lives yesterday. we still have five children critically injured, meaning they have suffered very serious injuries which could be potentially life—threatening. they

are battling throughout the night to try and save these children, we cannot imagine what their parents are going through as they are waiting forfurther are going through as they are waiting for further news about what they are doing and it is a position none of us would really want to be in and we cannot imagine being in. absolutely, i know you've been there all morning, it must have been awful, notjust for the all morning, it must have been awful, not just for the families all morning, it must have been awful, notjust for the families but the staff. we now know that some of them were as young as six years old. the victims. the staff you're well accustomed to dealing with any traumatised children and parents but the thing that sets this apart yesterday as the fact these children have not been in an accident or become ill through some life changing condition, they had been

stabbed whilst attending a dance event at a summer school and itjust goes beyond belief that something like that would happen. staff must have been taken aback by what they had to deal with and of course they are continuing to fight to save the lives of those five children who remain in a critical condition. we also note that two adults are in a critical condition after they tried to intervene while this incident was going on to protect the children, are they in a critical condition? yes, they are being treated elsewhere but they were trying to protect these children when the attacker came into class, taking everyone by surprise and stabbing innocent children. these adults did our best apparently to fight off the

attacker and suffered very serious injuries as a result. we do not have the identity of people but we know they are in a critical condition this lunchtime and their families are also praying that they will make it through this. t are also praying that they will make it through this.— it through this. i know you have covered news _ it through this. i know you have covered news for _ it through this. i know you have covered news for many - it through this. i know you have l covered news for many decades, southport is just a very quiet seaside town, isn't it? how do you think the local community will pull together? think the local community will pull touether? :, , together? that is right. over the ears i together? that is right. over the years i was _ together? that is right. over the years i was covering _ together? that is right. over the years i was covering the - together? that is right. over the years i was covering the north i together? that is right. over the i years i was covering the north west, southport rarely made the news and it was no need for planning issues, crime was never something that happened in southport and you do here those vox pops of people saying you do not expect it on your doorstep but they really did not in southport. there was no inkling at 11am yesterday what was going to happen within an hour and it has

left everyone shocked. we have heard stories of the community coming together and people trying to support one another and the football club opening up the support centre and these are things that people come together to try to support one another and do what they can to send their love and support to the families were going through such anguish because now we have three families who have lost their young girls in the most tragic of circumstances.— girls in the most tragic of circumstances. , . , ., circumstances. yes, and the question eve one circumstances. yes, and the question everyone is — circumstances. yes, and the question everyone is asking — circumstances. yes, and the question everyone is asking and _ circumstances. yes, and the question everyone is asking and it _ circumstances. yes, and the question everyone is asking and it is _ everyone is asking and it is impossible to answer at the moment is why? no one will ask that question more than parents. why those kids, that dance class, why did that person do what they did? these are the questions the police are trying to answer and hopefully they will answer and hopefully they will answer them over the coming days and weeks as they continue to interview

the 17—year—old. they say they are not looking to anyone else in connection with this. the legal process has to take its course. this person will be interviewed and if there is evidence somebody will be charge and it will go through the courts. very early stages at the moment and i think we have already said and i willjust reiterated by the police and everyone else is saying please do not indulge in speculation on social media. there are all sorts of rubbish on social media. their names bandied around which are wrong, according to the police. stop doing that and listen to the official outlets and we wait for official news before we report it to you. reinforcing what the police have said in a statement this afternoon, not to take any notice of the speculation and not to indulge in the speculation that is on social media. we talked about how the local community has been coming together

from the small things like bringing drinks to the police officers who