also on the programme tonight... the government gives details of its plans to build houses on some of england's greenbelt. an inquest hears that a woman killed with her mother and sister in a crossbow attack managed to phone the police before she was cut off. and a third gold for team gb as nathan hales wins the men's trap shooting in his olympic debut. and stay with us here on bbc news for continuing coverage and analysis from our team of correspondents in the uk and around the world. good evening from southport as police confirm that a third child

has died following yesterday's knife attack at a taylor swift—themed holiday club. she's been named as nine—year—old alice aguiar. we now know that the two children who died yesterday were six—year—old bebe king and elsie stancombe, who was seven. police say that eight other children suffered stab wounds and two are in a critical condition, alongside two adults who were also critically injured. tonight, just over a mile away, people are gathering for a vigil for all the victims of yesterday's stabbings. tonight, we'll be reporting from the vigil and looking at how people living in this community have come together to support each other.

we'll also bring you the latest on the police investigation as they continue to question a 17—year—old boy. but first tonight, judith moritz reports on the latest of yesterday's event. alice, only nine years old, whose parents say she will always be there princess, elsie dot stancombe, smiling proudly for her school photograph, and bebe king, just six years old, whose family say they have no words to describe the devastation that has hit them. how can you find the words? children who were just dancing, can you find the words? children who werejust dancing, now can you find the words? children who were just dancing, now they are gone. it is impossible to make sense of this, and southport is reeling, the firefighters who went to help the firefighters who went to help the children yesterday are none. ——

narmer. the ambulance crews who raced to help them feel the same, all anyone here can do now is show their sorrow and offer their support. their sorrow and offer their su ort. ~ . their sorrow and offer their smart-— their sorrow and offer their su--ort. ~ ., , their sorrow and offer their su- -ort. ~ ., , u, ., their sorrow and offer their su--ort.~ . , ., support. we have 'ust come to pay our support. we have 'ust come to pay respects. — support. we have 'ust come to pay our respects. it is— support. we have just come to pay our respects. it isjust _ our respects. it is just heartbreaking, really. my our respects. it isjust heartbreakina, reall. y . heartbreaking, really. my daughter noes heartbreaking, really. my daughter aoes to a heartbreaking, really. my daughter goes to a drama — heartbreaking, really. my daughter goes to a drama club, _ heartbreaking, really. my daughter goes to a drama club, it _ heartbreaking, really. my daughter goes to a drama club, it is - heartbreaking, really. my daughter goes to a drama club, it is very - goes to a drama club, it is very close _ goes to a drama club, it is very close to — goes to a drama club, it is very close to home. if she went to a holiday— close to home. if she went to a holiday club, you don't know if she will be _ holiday club, you don't know if she will be safe~ — holiday club, you don't know if she will be safe-— will be safe. it is a place we all 0, will be safe. it is a place we all no, to will be safe. it is a place we all go. to feel _ will be safe. it is a place we all go, to feel safe _ will be safe. it is a place we all go, to feel safe and _ will be safe. it is a place we all go, to feel safe and to - will be safe. it is a place we all go, to feel safe and to want. will be safe. it is a place we all go, to feel safe and to want to | will be safe. it is a place we all i go, to feel safe and to want to go and be _ go, to feel safe and to want to go and be with— go, to feel safe and to want to go and be with our— go, to feel safe and to want to go and be with our children - go, to feel safe and to want to go and be with our children there. it| and be with our children there. it is the _ and be with our children there. it is the most — and be with our children there. it is the most gorgeous _ and be with our children there. it is the most gorgeous place, - and be with our children there. it is the most gorgeous place, youi is the most gorgeous place, you would _ is the most gorgeous place, you would never_ is the most gorgeous place, you would never ever— is the most gorgeous place, you would never ever think- is the most gorgeous place, you would never ever think anything | would never ever think anything like that would _ would never ever think anything like that would happen. _ would never ever think anything like that would happen.— that would happen. emotions have been near the _ that would happen. emotions have been near the surface _ that would happen. emotions have been near the surface all - that would happen. emotions have been near the surface all day. - been near the surface all day. the prime minister brought flowers and came to pay his respects but found that the sun feelings were riding high. that the sun feelings were riding hiuh. ., , ., he is

high. come here, sweetheart. he is meant to be — high. come here, sweetheart. he is meant to be the _ high. come here, sweetheart. he is meant to be the prime _ high. come here, sweetheart. he is meant to be the prime minister! - high. come here, sweetheart. he is meant to be the prime minister! i i meant to be the prime minister! [ came meant to be the prime minister! came here meant to be the prime minister! i came here to pay my respects to the victims and families who are going through raw pain and grief that most of us can't imagine, i can't imagine it asa dad of us can't imagine, i can't imagine it as a dad myself. to get a briefing from the chief constable and emergency services about the ongoing investigation, but also importantly to have the opportunity to say to those that were responding yesterday from the emergency services, to say a personal thank you to them, to shake their hand, and to say that, as prime minister, in behalf of the country, we are grateful for what they did. more information _ grateful for what they did. more information has _ grateful for what they did. more information has been _ grateful for what they did. more information has been emerging about the heroes of this tragedy, this is leanne lucas, who is understood to have been running the children's dance class who is thought to have been stabbed while trying to protect them, her condition is not currently

known, and this isjoel verity, a window cleaner who went to confront the knifeman before waiting for police to arrive and then carried a child away from the scene, his friends have been speaking about his bravery. friends have been speaking about his brave . ., , ., ., ., ., bravery. in that situation, no one knows how _ bravery. in that situation, no one knows how they _ bravery. in that situation, no one knows how they will _ bravery. in that situation, no one knows how they will react, no - bravery. in that situation, no one | knows how they will react, no one knows _ knows how they will react, no one knows if _ knows how they will react, no one knows if their fight or flight will kick in— knows if their fight or flight will kick in and which one will kick in and in _ kick in and which one will kick in and in that— kick in and which one will kick in and in that second being a father myself, — and in that second being a father myself, joeljust thought he had to help out, _ myself, joeljust thought he had to help out, he went straightaway, he was truly— help out, he went straightaway, he was truly fearless, and personally i am so _ was truly fearless, and personally i am so proud of him. the was truly fearless, and personally i am so proud of him.— was truly fearless, and personally i am so proud of him. the children had been at a taylor _ am so proud of him. the children had been at a taylor swift _ am so proud of him. the children had been at a taylor swift dance - been at a taylor swift dance workshop and today the star posted her thoughts on instagram, saying the horror of the attackers washing over her and she is completely in shock. fans of the singer have raised nearly £200,000 to support the families involved. there are still children in a critical condition and there are many waiting anxiously for news about all of those who were hurt, tonight,

teachers of the little girls whose lives have been lost said it is impossible to express the impact they made on those around them, they say this community stands together in grief. as we have been hearing, a 17 year boy remains in police custody this evening, he can't be named because of his age but we can report that he was born in cardiff to rwandan parents who moved to this area about 11 years ago. police say they are not looking for anyone else, with the latest on the police investigation, this report from daniel sandford. the usual quiet of this cul—de—sac in banksjust outside southport was shattered yesterday afternoon by the arrival of armed police officers because it is here that the 17—year—old boy, who is being held on suspicion of

murder, lives. the suspect was born in cardiff to parents who moved to the uk from rwanda, the family moved to the southport area 11 years ago and to disclose in a banks seven years ago. we do know his name but it is unlawfulfor us years ago. we do know his name but it is unlawful for us to identify him because he is under 18 and involved in criminal proceedings. neighbours say he left his home in banks yesterday in a taxi at 11th —— at 1130, he was wearing a covid style facemask and a quarter of an hour later a man arrived in a taxi and at 11117 hour later a man arrived in a taxi and at 1147 police were called to reports of a stabbing at the dance eventjust reports of a stabbing at the dance event just off reports of a stabbing at the dance eventjust off hart street, the suspect was arrested at the scene. a completely incorrect name for the suspect has been circulating on social media and detectives have asked people not to speculate during their investigation, they have also repeated that the stabbing is not

currently being treated as terror —related although counterterror reason police are actively providing support to the investigation. —— counterterrorism. this 3d animation shows how the dance studio is down a cul—de—sac with only one way in and one way out so it may have been difficult for people to escape once the attack started. the new home secretary was in southport this morning to lay flowers and meet the police, fire and ambulance staff who responded to what she called an unimaginable attack. it is responded to what she called an unimaginable attack. it is beyond every parent's — unimaginable attack. it is beyond every parent's worst _ unimaginable attack. it is beyond every parent's worst nightmare, l unimaginable attack. it is beyond i every parent's worst nightmare, you had what should have been a children's party, having fun at the beginning of the summer holidays, to then turn into something so devastating.— then turn into something so devastatina. . . ., devastating. with police forensics teams poring _ devastating. with police forensics teams poring over _ devastating. with police forensics teams poring over the _ devastating. with police forensics teams poring over the streets - devastating. with police forensics - teams poring over the streets around the attack site today the 17—year—old remains in custody but has not been charged. detectives know that this community and the whole country need answers, and

quickly, as to exactly what happened and why. and that is the enduring question in this investigation, if this is not a terror —related crime, what could possibly be the motivation for attacking a group of primary aged girls at a taylor swift themed dance event, what could possibly be the reason for attacking that particular group? this was not a widely publicised event yet whoever carried out this attack seems to have found out about it and chosen to have specifically targeted. —— target it. daniel sandford there. those questions, exactly what people in this area and southport are asking this evening, and they are also thinking about those who are fighting for their lives because we know that eight other children, it has been confirmed, suffered stab wounds in

the attack yesterday, two of them remain in a critical condition in hospital tonight along with two adults, also critically injured. we can get the latest updates now from the hospitals treating the injured from our correspondent at order hey hospital in liverpool. —— all the hey. hospital in liverpool. -- all the he . , , ., . ., hospital in liverpool. -- all the he . , . ., . . hey. this is a centre of excellence for paediatric _ hey. this is a centre of excellence for paediatric care _ hey. this is a centre of excellence for paediatric care and _ hey. this is a centre of excellence for paediatric care and we - hey. this is a centre of excellence for paediatric care and we have i hey. this is a centre of excellence i for paediatric care and we have been getting more details about their involvement in the aftermath of this heartbreaking incident, they say that despite their best efforts nine—year—old alice aguiar died here in the early hours of this morning and they say two other children remain critical but in a stable condition in hospital, and four others continue to receive treatment but they say their thoughts and prayers remain with the children, theirfamilies and all of prayers remain with the children, their families and all of those affected by the events in southport, they continue to provide them with all the support they can, but what

they describe as this devastating time, other children are being looked after in other hospitals but it's not clear what their condition is, there were two adults who also suffered stab wounds in the attack on the last public update on their condition was they remained critical. ., ., condition was they remained critical. ., ~' , ., , condition was they remained critical. ., ,, , ., , . critical. thank you very much indeed. critical. thank you very much indeed- as — critical. thank you very much indeed. as you _ critical. thank you very much indeed. as you arrive - critical. thank you very much indeed. as you arrive here i critical. thank you very much l indeed. as you arrive here the scene, you are hit by the fragrance of flowers because so many people have been laying hundreds and hundreds of bouquets care during the dayjust hundreds of bouquets care during the day just at the edge of the police called in, isaw day just at the edge of the police called in, i saw some balloons earlier, a number six, seven and nine, the ages of the three little girls who died. tonight, hundreds of people are gathering a mile from here for a vigil and judith is there? i here for a vigil and judith is there? ., here for a vigil and judith is there? ~ , ., here for a vigil and judith is there? ~ i. .., here for a vigil and judith is there? ~ , ., .., ., there? i think you can hear the a- lause there? i think you can hear the applause behind _ there? i think you can hear the applause behind me, - there? i think you can hear the applause behind me, there - there? i think you can hear the applause behind me, there are actually thousands who have joined him in the middle of southport,

applause for the paramedics, the emergency services who had to respond to this, at the moment, flowers are being laid behind me by some of the people who have come to this video, there has been silence here as well, a minute's silence for those who have died, and i can tell you that having covered the awful attack, at manchester arena in different circumstances, i feel here the similarities of a community coming together, children involved in both situations, and it feels tonightjust as in both situations, and it feels tonight just as manchester stood together in 2017 that southport is doing the same thing, all of these people have come out to show their respect, their solidarity, their love in their support for the people who are caught in the middle of this. —— and. judith moore reporting there. good evening. i'm martine croxall. tonight, the community of southport

is coming together to mourn — holding a vigil in the wake of that deadly stabbing, which has taken the lives of three girls and injured several others. 0ur correspondent nicky schiller is at that vigil this evening and has been following events throughout the day. as we have seen in other occasions when tragedies like this occur, nicky, there's a real sense, a need for communities to come together, to pay their respects?— pay their respects? absolutely, martin, the _ pay their respects? absolutely, martin, the chaplain _ pay their respects? absolutely, martin, the chaplain who - pay their respects? absolutely, martin, the chaplain who we i pay their respects? absolutely, i martin, the chaplain who we were talking to a little earlier, who led his service, said this is a moment when you think of things like dunblane. this feels like that sort of event. throughout the day, the community has been coming together in small and large ways here. in small and large ways here, community has been coming together in small and large ways here, we have thousands of people at the vigil tonight. there was a minute's silence held. everyone completely silent here. i would estimate that there are thousands of people here

who are taking part in this vigil. just wanted to come together, to feel with the rest of the community, but there have been small things as well during the day. i have been up at the cordon, and at the cordon, one little child came up with some chocolates and just wanted to handles over to the police who were manning the cordon, and theyjust felt they needed to do something, so it goes from those small, little moments right through to what we have here tonight, which is thousands of people who are now clapping... thousands of people who are now clapping- - -_ clapping... applause you can _ clapping... applause you can see _ clapping... applause you can see the i clapping... applause - you can see the solidarity, clapping... applause _ you can see the solidarity, everyone is clapping together. the mayor of sefton, she addressed the crowd, and i wrote down something she said. she

said she hoped the family would gain some support. she also said it was hard to find the words at such a horrendous time, and i think that has been something that everyone that i have spoken to today also saying. it is hard to find the right words. she said that she had laid some flowers at the site and she said she could not help but cry, and that's been the same for other people laying flowers during the day at the cordon. for example, there were some firefighters who turned up, and they brought some flowers and laid them there, and as they walked away, you can see that they were emotional. we later found out that some of them were amongst the first people on the scene yesterday, arriving before the paramedics and before the police, trying to do the first aid that they are trained in at the scene. 0ther first aid that they are trained in at the scene. other people i've seen today laying flowers and walking

away with tears in their eyes, but some other people were just wanting quiet contemplation. they would walk up quiet contemplation. they would walk up to the cordon and just stand there, saying a silent little prayer, and the mayor here saying that she hoped that some comfort would come from tonight. she also asked that there be calm and respect and to let the families grieve. the chaplain who you just heard there said it was not about labels or creed, it was about standing in solidarity, sharing a common humanity, coming together, showing that we stick together, and you can see behind me now, that's what's happening here tonight. the crowds that have come, dave listened to those words that have been said, and now they are mingling amongst each other, talking about what has happened, trying to find the words.

there was a moment earlier on today when the home secretary yvette cooper arrived at the scene to lay flowers, and i've not seen it before at an event like this. normally when politicians arrive, they will get some questions thrown at them by the media, but that was not the case. she turned up with her flowers, along with the local mp here and members of the merseyside police force. she walked up, she put her flowers down and stood there, and there wasn't a sound from the journalists or the public. all you could hear was the clicking of cameras, and then she was quite emotional, she shared a hug with the local mp, before walking away, and the people moved away so that she could leave without asking a question, without saying anything,

and i think that shows the level of grief that this town is feeling at the moment. southport doesn't know why this has happened here. and that is the big question that they want answered. why? and of course that is the question that cannot be answered at the moment, because the police investigation is continuing. they don't have the answers at the moment. we know that a 17—year—old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, and is being questioned by detectives. we know that he lived about three miles away from here and was originally from cardiff, moved here about a decade ago, has a brother and his parents originally came from rwanda. and the police are saying that it rwanda. and the police are saying thatitis rwanda. and the police are saying that it is not terror related, but that it is not terror related, but thatis that it is not terror related, but that is all they are saying at the moment, because they are trying to work out what happened. at the scene

of the crime we have seen the forensic officers there during the day, in those telltale white outfits that you see. they are trying to gather evidence. the police asking the public, if they have any cctv or door bell footage, to let them have that. they will be trying to talk to the emergency services who responded and also the locals who arrived on the scene. we heard from some of them that they felt like it was a horror movie, talking about how they won't be able to get out of there brain and the noise of the children screaming. you saw paramedics arrived today to lay some flowers, and as they did that, one of those was really visibly upset, but the crowd started clapping them. tonight here, when the paramedics were mentioned, there was clapping, because although they are trained to

turn up at incidents they don't know about, they turned up to a scene where, inside that dance group, the 25 children, and we know a number of those had been stabbed, three of those had been stabbed, three of those girls have died, a six—year—old, a seven—year—old and a nine—year—old who died in hospital overnight, and we still have children who are critically ill, and even through all your training as a paramedic, that, i'm sure, still can't prepare you for the fact that you are trying to save the life of 86—year—old little girl —— a six—year—old little girl on a pavement in southport in the northwest of england. and i think that sums up what has happened here over the last 2a hours. it is a town

in morning, it is a town in grief, but you can see tonight that it is also a town that has come together. he thousand people here came here because they wanted to show that support, for the town but also for the families of the victims, and you can't imagine what they are going through — for example, the little nine—year—old alice, she's a only child. her mum and father no longer have their only daughter. and that is why these people have come out here tonight, to show solidarity for the victims and the families, but because a lot of people here will know someone who was involved in that incident yesterday, particularly in art street, where it took place. they want to just show

together, here in southport. nicky, thank ou together, here in southport. nicky, thank you so _ together, here in southport. nicky, thank you so much. _ together, here in southport. nicky, thank you so much. nikki _ together, here in southport. nicky, thank you so much. nikki there i thank you so much. nikki there in southport, who will be with us throughout more of the evening —— nicky schiller. as we reflect on that vigil and also it has been happening in southport today. as nicky was saying, the mayor of sefton, the local authority, june burns, spoke, and it sefton council have described this stabbing as one of the saddest days in the borough's history. the council leader has said there has been a tremendous the difficult time for the people of sefton, but she added, i know we will come through this stronger, and we seen that tonet with the vigil, as nicky was explained. she said, i know our community will stay strong, and that's been seen in the truly amazing acts of kindness that have happened since monday. the offers of

support we have from across the world have been appreciated. as we saw, the prime minister sir keir starmer has been speaking about these attacks this afternoon. i came here to pay my respects to the victims and families who are going through raw pain and grief that most of us can't imagine — i can't imagine, as a dad myself — to get a briefing from the chief constable and the emergency services about the ongoing investigation, but also, importantly, to have the opportunity to say to those that were responding yesterday from the emergency services, to say a personal thank you to them and to shake their hand and to say that as prime minister, on behalf of the country, we are grateful for what they did. they, of course, say that they will respond — they're professionals — to anything, but there's no pretending that what they had to respond to yesterday was ordinary. it was very, very difficult of them. they were absolutely professional, and it was important for me to come and say simple words — thank you.

you touched on it before, but as a father, does the nature of this incident touch a particular nerve with you personally and with the rest of the country? i think it touches a nerve with the whole country, and it's awful to contemplate what happened, to hear for myself the experiences of the first responders, what they had to deal with, it's really hard to take in for anybody. it's not what any of them came to work for. but of course they're professionals and they deal with it. i think about the families, the friends, the loved ones, those directly impacted and, of course, the wider community here. but there's no pretending, i think, that anybody in the country is not untouched by what happened yesterday. you've talked about making tackling knife crime a moral mission for your government. is anything going to change?

is anything going to happen as a result of what happened yesterday? i am very worried about high levels of knife crime, and i'm absolutely determined that my government will get to grips with it. but today is not the time for politics. today is the time to focus entirely on the families who are going through such pain and grief and on the wider community and, of course, a time to say thank you to those that responded yesterday in the most awful of circumstances. sir keir starmer speaking earlier, after his visit to southport and the home secretary yvette cooper has also paid her respects and visited the community, so massively affected by these attacks. let's pause for a moment. we are going to go to the house of commons now, where the home secretary is on her feet.—

secretary is on her feet. thank you, mr speaker- — secretary is on her feet. thank you, mr speaker- l _ secretary is on her feet. thank you, mr speaker. i would _ secretary is on her feet. thank you, mr speaker. i would like _ secretary is on her feet. thank you, mr speaker. i would like to - secretary is on her feet. thank you, mr speaker. i would like to make i secretary is on her feet. thank you, mr speaker. i would like to make a | mr speaker. i would like to make a statement about the devastating attack that took place in southport yesterday morning. it is difficult to comprehend or to put into words the horror of what happened. these were young children, dancing to taylor swift and celebrating the start of the school holidays. what should have been a joyful start to the summer turned into an unspeakable tragedy. three young children have lost their lives. bebe king, age six, elsie dot stancombe, age seven, and alice aguiar age nine. the police have released some words alice's family have said. keep smiling and dancing, like you love to do, our princess. six other children and two adults have been treated still for their injuries in hospital. and the whole house and

the whole country is united in shock and in grief and, together, we said our thoughts, and in grief and, together, we said ourthoughts, our and in grief and, together, we said our thoughts, our prayers and deepest condolences to everybody who has been affected by these terrible events. this morning ijoined the merseyside chief constable, chief fire officer, police and crime commissioner and my right honourable friend the mp southport to lay flowers on the street of the attack and the prime minister has been in southport with the mayor of the liverpool city region this afternoon. i also met this morning with some of the first responders, police, the northwest ambulance service and fire and rescue, who arrived at an unimaginable need distressing scene yesterday and who responded with her professionalism. aided by passersby of nhs workers and off emergency workers who are the cause of distress and ran to

help, as the police officer said to me when we spoke, they do these jobs knowing they can be called upon in the toughest of times, but nothing still can prepare you for an attack on little children. and i want to recognise the toll that that can take. those emergency workers were back at work yesterday, they live locally, and some of them had been to the dance centre in the past with their own children or relatives. but they wanted to be out in their own community, continuing to serve and support the people of southport. that is public service at its very best. i also offer my sincere thanks to everyone in the nhs, with hospitals across the region tending to the victims and supporting their families right now. and to sefton council, merseyside police family liaison officers, already working to provide extensive support to the victims families and to the community, and this morning, i met with staff from victim care, the

samaritans and local youth workers who were also already providing local support to those who need it. the home office in the ministry of housing, communities and local government stand ready to support them and work with them as they deal with the distressing aftermath of this terrible attack. merseyside police are now leading a very serious criminal investigation. they are being supported by counterterrorism police with up so far mercy police confirmed they were called to the dance studio just before noon yesterday morning we're 13 people have been attacked. 11 children and two adults who try to prevent the attack. they arrested a 17—year—old male at the scene. the police have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack and they do not believe there is an ongoing threat. as you have rightly reminded the house this is an ongoing investigation, it must not be

impeded or compromised in any way. that means all of us have a responsibility not to do or say anything to cut across or prejudice the criminal investigation. we must let the police do theirjob and they have my full backing in that task. in more than that, we must show respect for the families. where there are updates merseyside police work hard to try to provide information first to the families, even though that is not easy or always possible. likewise it is extremely important that people don't spread damaging misinformation online. false information has already been extensively shared in the last 2a hours. those who do this for their own purposes risk undermining a crucial criminal investigation. i ask everyone to show some respect for the community in southport and for families who are grieving and in trauma. in these

dark and difficult moments the