live from london, this is bbc news. the suspect in the southport stabbings arrives in court after being charged with the murder of three girls and the attempted murder of ten other people. keir starmer is set to meet police leaders after more rioting overnight. more than 100 people were arrested after disturbances in central london yesterday. questions for the bbc over its handling of the huw edwards case as the corporation confirms police warned them its investigation concerned child abuse images israel says it's confirmed that the senior hamas leader in gaza, mohammed deif, was killed in a strike in khan younis last month. and in the olympics more chances

for medals for team gb today after winning five medals yesterday. hello and welcome to bbc news. one of our top stories concerns the murders of three young girls in southport and the attempted murders of ten others. a 17—year—old has been arriving in court. a 17—year—old boy has been charged with the murders of three girls in southport and ten counts of attempted murder after a mass stabbing at a dance class on monday. the teenager cannot be named because of his age. he has arrived at liverpool magistrates court this morning.

three children, six—year—old bebe king, seven—year—old elsie dot stancombe and nine—year—old alice da silva aguiar, died during the attack at a taylor swift themed dance class, whilst eight other children and two adults were seriously injured. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford reports. it was two and a half days after the traumatic mass stabbing in southport that prosecutors announced that a 17—year—old had been charged with the attack. the crown prosecution service has authorised merseyside police to charge a 17—year—old boy of banks, lancashire, with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder following the tragic incident that took place in southport this week. the 17—year—old's charged with the murders of six—year—old bebe king, seven—year—old elsie dot stancombe and nine—year—old alice dasilva aguiar. those he allegedly attempted

to murder were not named. when the attack began. she tried to shield the children from danger. her cousin told the bbc how she's doing now. all we know is she's spoken. she's still definitely not out of the woods yet, but she's definitely talking. yeah, we're not allowed to say too much, but yeah, she's a hero. she is an actual hero. jonathan hayes was stabbed in the leg after he ran into the classroom, his office next door,

when he heard the screams. from his hospital bed, he told the bbc he didn't see himself as a hero and wishes he could have done more. southport will be hoping that the charging of the suspect will be a milestone in this tragedy, but the town still has a lot of grieving and healing to do. daniel sandford, bbc news, southport. our north of england reporter, rowan bridge is outside liverpool magistrates�* court. hello, rowan, what can we expect to take place today?— take place today? well, as you say, the 17-year-eld _ take place today? well, as you say, the 17-year-old has _ take place today? well, as you say, the 17-year-old has already - take place today? well, as you say, the 17-year-old has already arrived | the 17—year—old has already arrived here at the court building behind me. he is yet to appear in court. we expect it to be a fairly short hearing. because of the gravity of the charges he is facing, murder and attempted murder, the case will

almost certainly be transferred to a crown court which deals with more serious offences such as murder and attempted murder in the uk. it is worth noting the circumstances around how these charges were announced is highly unusualfor the uk. to have a news conference announcing charges is unusual, normally we get a press release. for that news conference to take place at midnight is extraordinary, and for it to involve the most senior police officer in merseyside police and the deputy chief crown prosecutor for merseyside i think shows the gravity and seriousness with which the case is being considered. as i say, the case will be transferred from here to a crown court. the authorities have asked people not to speculate around the case. there are strict rules in place when it comes to court reporting to make sure that the process is fair to the accused. so they have asked people not to speculate about the details of the

case or to publish anything online which could be prejudicial to what is now a live, legal case. this is still very much alive police investigation that is ongoing in southport. in fact, investigation that is ongoing in southport. infact, merseyside police say they have been pulling in resources from across the north west of england to help in their investigation. he of england to help in their investigation. of england to help in their investi . ation. ., . investigation. he mentioned that unusual press — investigation. he mentioned that unusual press conference - investigation. he mentioned that unusual press conference in - investigation. he mentioned that. unusual press conference in terms investigation. he mentioned that - unusual press conference in terms of the timing. just quickly summarise what was said in the news conference.— what was said in the news conference. , conference. there were very few details given _ conference. there were very few details given out. _ conference. there were very few details given out. they - conference. there were very few details given out. they basically| details given out. they basically outlined it was the chief constable of merseyside police, serena kennedy, and the deputy chief prosecutor for merseyside and cheshire, and they basically outlined the nature of the charges. we know he faces three murder charges and they have named the children those relate to, and then there were ten attempted murder charges and we don't have the names of who those charges relate to. they

basically then made a plea, as i say, for people not to speculate about the case or to publish anything online which could be prejudicial. there were very few details given out, which is why it is so unusualfor such details given out, which is why it is so unusual for such a news conference to take place. but given the level of attention and concern around the case that is why they decided to hold a news conference. thank you very much. i know you are following proceedings for us and reminding us of the legalities of elements of this court case. thank you very much. that was rowan bridge outside liverpool magistrates at�* court. let's speak to our correspondent will vernon, who is in southport. just take us through what the atmosphere is like they are and has been like there this morning. i am

so sorry, we don't appear to have will vernon, and we will cross to southport later. but i can tell you that the floral tributes have been growing over the last few days and certainly this morning we have seen families and members of the community continuing to leave those floral tributes at the bottom of the street in southport. you can see members of the church, the local church community, as well. i believe we have got will vernon with us. great to have you with us. those floral tributes are growing. absolutely. we say this a lot, but the tributes are pouring in. there is an ocean of flowers, soft toys, balloons, messages here. we have seen locals coming this morning,

laying more flowers, paying their respects. police community support officers as well came here this morning, also laying flowers and paying their respects. this shrine, one of several around the town, including a few in the area, we are very close to where these stabbing took place on monday, there are a few of these. since i was here yesterday it has grown a huge amount. this community really is hurting, it is reeling, from two incidence. firstly, those horrific stabbings on monday in which three little girls were tragically killed, but also what happened the next night when hundreds of people gathered in front of a local mosque and started attacking it with bricks, with bottles, attacking the police as well. the police said yesterday they have made four arrests in connection with what happened and they plan to make more. over 50 police officers were injured in that trouble and many police dogs were hurt as well. and following the

unrest on tuesday night violence has occurred in several other places around the country in the last 2a hours. in london there were over 100 arrests when people gathered outside downing street. they were throwing flares and chanting stop the boats and save our kids. and in hartlepool as well there were eight arrests, thatis as well there were eight arrests, that is about 150 kilometres from here, and the police say the arrests in hartlepool were connected to what happened here in southport on tuesday night. they seem to have been disturbances in manchester and in aldershot. it does appear this unrest is spreading across the country. {131 unrest is spreading across the count . , country. of course the prime minister will _ country. of course the prime minister will be _ country. of course the prime minister will be meeting - country. of course the prime i minister will be meeting senior members of the police community later today at downing street, this afternoon. we are expecting him to talk along the lines of saying that they need to use their powers to stop mindless violence in its

tracks. what is the feeling on how the police have handled the unrest over the last few days?— over the last few days? well, here in southport _ over the last few days? well, here in southport there _ over the last few days? well, here in southport there has _ over the last few days? well, here in southport there has been - over the last few days? well, here in southport there has been an - in southport there has been an incredible outpouring of support for the police. local people have been bringing gifts, bringing food and drink to the police, donating money as well stop i was speaking to people yesterday here, local people, and they were saying they were absolutely outraged after what happened on monday, which was obviously appalling and incredibly upsetting, especially for those police and other emergency service workers who were first on the scene and who had to deal with that awful site. the next day after that they then had to deal with these rioters and local people were really angry about that when i was speaking to them yesterday. the police are saying that in terms of what happened outside the mosque on tuesday night in southport, they

said that was fuelled by misinformation that were spread on social media that the suspect, the 17—year—old suspect who is in custody, and has now been charged of course, that the suspect had some sort of link with islam. police and other officials have been saying again yesterday, urging people, please, do not speculate, do not spread unfounded theories on social media. this is a live, ongoing investigation and spreading rumours online can lead to exactly the sort of events that we saw here on tuesday night.— tuesday night. will vernon in southport. — tuesday night. will vernon in southport. we _ tuesday night. will vernon in southport, we will _ tuesday night. will vernon in southport, we will leave - tuesday night. will vernon in southport, we will leave it i tuesday night. will vernon in i southport, we will leave it there for now. thank you very much. there was also disorder in hartlepool and that has been connected with those events in southport and eight people have been arrested and a number of police officers injured. peter harris has more. burned out by the side of the road

this is the wreckage of a cleveland police car, set alight during violence in hartlepool. police said they had come under attack with missiles and bottles hurled at them before skirmishes broke out with riot officers. by nightfall town centre streets were sealed off by police with shields as they moved to restore order. windows had been put through, a shock to those who live nearby. through, a shock to those who live nearb . ., , ., nearby. people were near the cenotaph _ nearby. people were near the cenotaph protesting - nearby. people were near the cenotaph protesting about. nearby. people were near the l cenotaph protesting about what nearby. people were near the - cenotaph protesting about what has happened at the other end of the country to those unfortunate little girls and the people who try to protect them. but i think the majority of them have got on the bandwagon, unfortunately. the? majority of them have got on the bandwagon, unfortunately. they have 'ust not on bandwagon, unfortunately. they have just got on the _ bandwagon, unfortunately. they have just got on the bandwagon. _ bandwagon, unfortunately. they have just got on the bandwagon. cleveland j just got on the bandwagon. cleveland police say the disorder followed a protest linked to the knife attack

on children in southport on monday. they say arrests were made for public order and affray. peter harris, bbc news. in central london more than 100 people were arrested following the knife attack and the riot in southport. police clashed with protesters on whitehall, which is close to downing street, and during one of those demonstrations the metropolitan police said the conditions placed on the protest had been breached. our political correspondent harry farleyjoins us now. tell us more about those protests in london and we will get on to discuss the meeting later on in downing street with the prime minister. ., , , in downing street with the prime minister. . , , , ., , , minister. really quite ugly protests here in westminster _ minister. really quite ugly protests here in westminster last _ minister. really quite ugly protests here in westminster last night. - here in westminster last night. flares launched at the gates of downing street of whitehall, as you

say. police say more than 100 people were arrested in westminster on top of those arrested in hartlepool last night as well. that public disorder, that public unrest and increasing violence spreading and notjust in southport, but across the country as well. 50 southport, but across the country as well. ~ , ., well. so the prime minister later will meet senior _ well. so the prime minister later will meet senior police _ well. so the prime minister later will meet senior police leaders i will meet senior police leaders following those protest. what are we expecting this afternoon? keir starmer is _ expecting this afternoon? keir starmer is meeting _ expecting this afternoon? lie: " starmer is meeting senior police leaders at downing street this afternoon. we understand the purpose of the meeting is to offer the government's full support and backing. it will take place around 2:30pm this afternoon. we understand the prime minister will say that while people have the right to peaceful protest, those who exploit that right in order to sow hatred and carry out violent acts, and i am

quoting here, will face the full force of the law. i understand keir starmer will urge please to use that full power to tackle what he calls mindless violence. it is worth bearing in mind it is less than a month now since keir starmer became prime minister and is now facing three examples of public disorder and this meeting with the senior police leaders in downing street this afternoon as part of his response to that.— this afternoon as part of his response to that. this afternoon as part of his resonse to that. , ., , , , response to that. obviously there is so much anger— response to that. obviously there is so much anger at _ response to that. obviously there is so much anger at the _ response to that. obviously there is so much anger at the moment, - response to that. obviously there is so much anger at the moment, a i response to that. obviously there is| so much anger at the moment, a lot of frustration as well. when we talk about the police having the full backing and also using their full powers, i don't know if you can help me with this, but what are their powers? i know there had been a meeting before this protest took place in london. the police were saying those conditions had been breached. what can you tell us around the arrangements for protest?

before a protest takes place the police can set certain conditions, where it can go and where it cannot go and if those conditions are breached then arrests can be made. more broadly police have quite extensive powers to police protests and to try and control any disorder that does take place. what keir starmer will be doing this afternoon is urging the police to use the full extent of those powers. of course, this quickly becomes a political question as well in terms of how the police manage protest, particularly if the they continue, it becomes a police operation as well as an operational question and there are political questions and ultimately decisions over how to manage protest, particularly operational matters for the police themselves. harry farley, thank you very much.

as we have been hearing, the attack on monday has prompted reaction right across the country with numerous protests breaking out in a number of cities, particularly across northern cities. merseyside police have said that more than 50 police officers were actually injured and five people were arrested on tuesday night. john maguire has been to southport to hear how the local community is dealing with the aftermath. once again, this community is responding. they came together once more, just as determined to help a neighbour. i willjust clear the leaves of. i think everybody is coming together and try to help everybody else. it is just not right, it is just not

what southport is about. i don't think half the people who were here fighting last night were from southport. fighting last night were from southport-— fighting last night were from southort. ., , ., southport. volunteers from the buildin: southport. volunteers from the building trade _ southport. volunteers from the building trade were _ southport. volunteers from the building trade were going - southport. volunteers from the | building trade were going house southport. volunteers from the i building trade were going house to house, offering their time and their expertise. walls that had been torn down by the mob being rebuilt by the community. we down by the mob being rebuilt by the communi . ~ ., ., ., ., community. we had about what had been auoin community. we had about what had been going on _ community. we had about what had been going on and _ community. we had about what had been going on and the _ community. we had about what had been going on and the state - community. we had about what had been going on and the state that i been going on and the state that people had caused to the area and we got in contact this morning because i am from ormskirk and claire is from southport and we wanted to come to help bring the community together. to help bring the community touether. ~ . , ' to help bring the community together-— to help bring the community touether. ~ ., , , ., to help bring the community touether. ., , , ., ., together. what stuff have you got in there? gloves, _ together. what stuff have you got in there? gloves, bags, _ together. what stuff have you got in there? gloves, bags, rubble - together. what stuff have you got in there? gloves, bags, rubble sacs, i there? gloves, bags, rubble sacs, thins there? gloves, bags, rubble sacs, things that — there? gloves, bags, rubble sacs, things that will _ there? gloves, bags, rubble sacs, things that will help. _ there? gloves, bags, rubble sacs, things that will help. there - there? gloves, bags, rubble sacs, things that will help. there were l things that will help. there were three families _ things that will help. there were three families devastated - things that will help. there were three families devastated and i things that will help. there were i three families devastated and they are organising funerals for their loved ones and we should be grieving and we should be left alone and they come from various parts of the north—west they behave like that and

it is just awful. it really is. they need to look at themselves and say, should i really be honouring a child's memory by smashing up somebody�*s has. well, no, not really. it somebody's has. well, no, not reall . , somebody's has. well, no, not reall . ., , , ., , really. it was terrible. the rioters had used social— really. it was terrible. the rioters had used social media _ really. it was terrible. the rioters had used social media at - really. it was terrible. the rioters had used social media at its i really. it was terrible. the rioters had used social media at its very| had used social media at its very worst, but the response from locals shows its best side. as calls for supplies and health were answered. it really was humbling. i came and i have seen it and it brings tears to my eyes because although i know the people of southport and i know how beautiful they are, but this was still a moving experience. i pray for the whole _ still a moving experience. i pray for the whole of _ still a moving experience. i pray for the whole of southport i still a moving experience. i pray for the whole of southport and i j for the whole of southport and i pray for— for the whole of southport and i pray for the victims of the offal attack— pray for the victims of the offal attack on — pray for the victims of the offal attack on monday and i pray for the police _ attack on monday and i pray for the police and — attack on monday and i pray for the police and the whole community to stay as _ police and the whole community to

stay as beautiful as they have always — stay as beautiful as they have always been. stay as beautiful as they have always been-— always been. police officers described — always been. police officers described as _ always been. police officers described as heroic - always been. police officers described as heroic by i always been. police officers described as heroic by the l always been. police officers i described as heroic by the mother always been. police officers - described as heroic by the mother of one of monday's young victims walk the streets that the night before they had fought to defend. above, firefighters helped to repair the most�*s shattered windows and everywhere random acts of kindness, pizzas donated and then offered around, a small gesture of appreciation. ijust drop off some pictures. i appreciation. i 'ust drop off some ictures. ., ., ., pictures. i am from the dog grooming sho down pictures. i am from the dog grooming shop down the _ pictures. i am from the dog grooming shop down the road. _ pictures. i am from the dog grooming shop down the road. i _ pictures. i am from the dog grooming shop down the road. ijust _ pictures. i am from the dog grooming shop down the road. i just think- pictures. i am from the dog grooming shop down the road. i just think it i shop down the road. ijust think it is horrific, the sort of depth people will sit to, humanity, man—to—man, i can't fathom it. i cannot understand. i drove past when the mob was gathering yesterday and i cannot possibly understand how people can hate other people because of religion, whatever, we are all just people. i think it has been amazing to see the show of

solidarity between all of the residents here, showing all the support for people, at the mosque, at the minimart in the corner, everyone has been affected, it breaks my heart. iiiat everyone has been affected, it breaks my heart.— everyone has been affected, it breaks my heart. everyone has been affected, it breaksm heart. ., ., ., ., breaks my heart. not far away, near the scene of — breaks my heart. not far away, near the scene of the _ breaks my heart. not far away, near the scene of the attack, _ breaks my heart. not far away, near the scene of the attack, the - the scene of the attack, the tributes continue to build, families with young children just like those who were killed. southport has endured the worst times imaginable, but despite those who have set out to destroy, there are many more here prepare to stop them and prepared to help and support each other. later today we will will be finding out when the culture secretary, lisa nandy, will be meeting with the bbc�*s director—general. huw edwards continue to be paid until his

resignation in april of this year, even after the bbc had learned of his arrest for serious offences. a household name, trusted to tell the nation that the queen had died. huw edwards delivered the news until he became the story. charged with having 41 indecent images of children sent by another offender on a whatsapp group, yesterday, he pleaded guilty. and now the new culture secretary, lisa nandy, wants to know more about how the bbc handled this, its reputation again at risk. here's the timeline. in may 2023, the corporation was told that huw edwards had been in contact with a 17—year—old boy. after the sun newspaper published further details injuly, edwards was suspended by the bbc. under its policy, he continued to be paid. in november, a critical development, the bbc was told he'd been arrested for separate and serious offences.

the corporation did not sack him and it continued to pay his full salary. in april this year, edwards resigned with no payoff. the bbc is facing difficult questions about all of this. when it realised its star presenter had been arrested, should he have been sacked? because between the point when he was arrested and his resignation, he was paid more than £200,000, public money, a salary which increased by £40,000 last year. the bbc said in a statement if at any point during the period mr edwards was employed by the bbc, he had been charged, the bbc had determined it would act immediately to dismiss him. in the end, at the point of charge, he was no longer an employee of the bbc. the corporation took legal advice about its duty of care to huw edwards, and had been told of a significant risk to his health.

his wife says he suffered from severe depression. he's expected to be sentenced in september. a prison term of up to three years is possible. tom symonds, bbc news. let's speak to our culture correspondent charlotte gallagher. so many questions are to be asked and put to the bbc. first off, what do we know about the timeline? really serious questions, aren't they? we now know that in november 2023, when huw edwards was arrested, the bbc was told he had been arrested for making indecent images of children. yesterday the bbc said they were aware that they had been serious offences and now we know they were told it was making indecent images of children. there was a five month period between then

and when huw edwards resigned in april 202a. and when huw edwards resigned in april202li. during and when huw edwards resigned in april 202a. during that time he received his full salary, around £200,000 in that period. he then resigned in april and he was charged injune. the bbc have said if he had been charged while he was still employed by the bbc he would have been sacked, but he chose to resign. so the questions facing the bbc are why wasn't he sacked when he was arrested on suspicion of such serious offences? why did he receive around £200,000 of public money during the five—month period? why was he allowed to resign? he chose to leave, he wasn't sacked or dismissed, he left on what he said were medical grounds. did the bbc act quickly enough? does the bbc have the right kind of safeguarding policies in place within the organisation? they are questions being asked by the general public and also questions being asked by the government. we know today that tim davey, the director—general,

will be having a phone call with a new culture secretary, lisa nandy, and they are the kind of thing she will want know. so reputation and career of huw edwards now lies in tatters. this is the man who announced the death of the queen in the uk, he led coverage of the uk general election and there is no way back for him after what he admitted in court yesterday. but now the reputation of the bbc itself is at stake. it reputation of the bbc itself is at stake. , �* �* reputation of the bbc itself is at stake. , “ , , stake. it is the wider bbc because it is the element _ stake. it is the wider bbc because it is the element of— stake. it is the wider bbc because it is the element of trust, - stake. it is the wider bbc because it is the element of trust, that i stake. it is the wider bbc because j it is the element of trust, that the bbc prides itself on. in terms of reputational damage, just how serious could it be for the corporation? it serious could it be for the corporation?— serious could it be for the cororation? , . , , corporation? it could be incredibly serious. because _ corporation? it could be incredibly serious. because of _ corporation? it could be incredibly serious. because of the _ corporation? it could be incredibly serious. because of the offences l corporation? it could be incredibly i serious. because of the offences huw edwards has admitted to, involving making indecent images of children, and obviously indecent images of children are made through the sexual abuse and rape of children, so

incredibly serious and if it is found that the bbc did not act quickly enough there could be really, really serious consequences. this man was the trusted face of bbc news. he was really the face of bbc news. he was really the face of bbc news for a very long time. the bbc will want to get a grip on this really quickly but questions are being asked by lots of people. if you pick up a newspaper today huw edwards is on the front page and inside there are mounting questions about what happened at the bbc and how the decisions were made about not to sack him.— not to sack him. charlotte gallagher. _ not to sack him. charlotte gallagher, thank - not to sack him. charlotte gallagher, thank you i not to sack him. charlotte gallagher, thank you very | not to sack him. charlotte i gallagher, thank you very much indeed. just to bring you some developments at the olympic games. it is bronze for great britain's mathilda hodgkins—byrne and also becky wilde, a superb race from them i understand. new zealand taking gold from romania. hopefully we can see or capture a moment of that.

great britain at 37 strokes a minute, will they take it up now? how much more have they got? can they finish like champions? it is less than 100 from the line. 50 metres. new zealand are half a length and romania are closing towards the line. can great britain hold on? new zealand tengo, romania silver and a remarkable bronze for great britain, upsetting the odds. theyjoin great britain, upsetting the odds. they join together only great britain, upsetting the odds. theyjoin together only this year. becky wilde. they join together only this year. becky wilde-— they join together only this year. bec wilde. ., ., ., ., , ., becky wilde. congratulations to new zealand.

the israeli army at the time said that another hamas commander, rafa'a salemeh, was killed, but said it did not have final confirmation on the fate of deif. hamas said that deif survived the attack, but did not provide proof. deif was one of the hamas leaders that israel said were marked for death after the october the seventh attack. our middle east correspondent yolande knell is injerusalem. just after we've had the news of these guys are targeted killings in these guys are targeted killings in the past couple of days, the israeli military putting out this short statement confirming that in their strike in the south of gaza two weeks ago, it did in fact kill this

man, who