It really is hard to put into words what took place in Southport yesterday. This is my hometown, the town I have written about extensively for near enough three years and the place I still call home.
This is a town in mourning.
Today's
@LivEchonews
front page
Tonight has been a dark night for Southport. Having witnessed everything that has gone on here tonight I am heartbroken.
This is not our town. These people do not represent this community.
As the dust settles and the TV cameras leave, a town remains where families and friends will mourn and grieve for years to come.
This is the edge of the cordon on Hart Street this morning. Finally peace has arrived for those wanting to pay their respects
As King Charles arrived at The Atkinson, he was greeted with cheers before paying his respects at the floral tributes left on the fountain. As he spoke to members of the public, people continued to cheer before then making his way into Southport Town Hall
Hundreds are gathering in Southport town centre ahead of King Charles’ arrival. The Royal is expected to look at the tributes outside The Atkinson before entering through town hall for a meeting with children and adults affected by the attack
These are the people we should be talking about this morning.
After what the families of those involved in Monday’s tragedy have endured, they shouldn’t have to see the scenes that unfolded last night.
I am truly heartbroken for them, and this town.
Today’s
@LivEchonews
Plastic wrapped message boards for the families of those affected sit with the floral tributes, balloons and teddies outside The Atkinson ahead of the King’s visit
There is a lot to be done to rebuild Southport, but today showed glimmers of hope as the community was acknowledged and thanked.
Elsie, Bebe and Alice remained in the forefront of people’s minds and they will never be forgotten.
Full story here:
Another heartbreaking night in Merseyside. This week has shown what happens when mindless thugs come together.
Yet another community that will be forced to pick up the pieces in the morning.
My account from County Road tonight:
Local shops and businesses suffering at the hands of thoughtless, masked up thugs in a pathetic attempt to disrupt the community.
This has no correlation to the atrocity that happened on Monday, it is disgusting
What I’ve seen tonight shows what hysteria and misinformation does
Tonight was monumental and an amazing feeling after what this city and region has endured over the last week and a half.
I was proud to witness Liverpool unite this evening.
Story with
@LiamThorpECHO
and
@ConCorner23
No shock this morning that these people, longstanding members of the community who care, were here first thing to pick up the pieces of last night’s despicable chaos on County Road.
Similar scenes to Southport, these are the people that suffer from this violence and disorder.
So exactly six months since my first day at
@LivEchonews
I've found out I passed my public affairs, media law and court reporting NCTJ exams. Over the moon to say the least!🎉
After leaving the town hall the King will meet a local building merchant who helped with repairs of the towns after the riots and an ice cream seller who gave children free ice creams after the attack
People have gathered outside the Spellow Library, with one woman crying who said: “What have books ever done to these people? Saying ‘save our kids’ then burn down something this community needs.”
Good afternoon, I’m in Southport this afternoon ahead of King Charles visiting the town to meet with the victims and families of those affected by the Southport attack
It was great to chat with
@Carra23
and some of the people that keep the Brunny going 75 years on from when it was opened. Unfortunately, it's one of the last standing youth clubs in the area
Today is the day nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel will be laid to rest. Olivia should be in school with her friends but instead, her family and friends are mourning the loss of the innocent little girl.
RIP Olivia
If this doesn’t hit home how devastating last night must have been for the families of those involved in the stabbings on Monday I don’t know what will.
Mum of Southport victim says 'stop the violence' on town streets
Cringey personal news tweet alert🚨📢
Today was my last day at
@LivEchonews
after just short of two years. The opportunities I’ve had and people I’ve met over the last 23 months have been amazing. I couldn’t have asked for any more for my first job in the industry (1/2)
The funeral date for Elsie Dot Stancombe has been set for Friday.
The family have called the service 'Elsie's Special Day', with people invited to pay their respects to the seven-year-old in a number of places throughout the town.
Full story here:
Absolutely vile what has happened across the country this week. Chanting ‘save our kids’ then forcing them to run for safety minutes later.
Shameful and heartbreaking.
I wrote about my first hand experience of what happened on County Road last night and people's pathetic attempt to use the tragedy in Southport earlier this week as a reason to cause destruction.
Utterly depressing that I even feel the need to write this.
In case anyone hadn't noticed, I met Jurgen Klopp last night, and here's what he said when I asked him about what the Freedom of Liverpool means to him
An uncharacteristically personal couple of tweets but after three months in London working at PA I’ve decided to make the move back to Merseyside. In October last year I suddenly and unexpectedly lost my mum and I never gave myself the time to process her death.
Alice, Bebe and Elsie were more than their deaths, they were vibrant, charismatic and energetic girls who were taken from this world far too soon.
Yesterday saw the last of the three funerals, with friends and families ensuring their legacy lives on.
Volunteers are continuing work outside the mosque on Sussex Road to restore it the best they can to how it was before the riots last night.
Fencing was pulled from the walls, a white Volkswagen Tiguan had its windscreen smashed and damage was done to the building.
At 10pm we're calling for everyone who follows us to support our
#SilenceIsNotAnOption
campaign in light of the murder of 9-yr-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel 2 wks ago tonight. Public info has been vital in our quest for
#Justice4Olivia
. Please RT & change your profile pic in support.
Liam and the rest of my colleagues have made me incredibly proud during what has been a story extremely close to my heart.
I cannot begin to imagine what the family and friends of those involved have been through this week. My thoughts have been and continue to be with them.
Immensely proud of the
@LivEchonews
team this week for covering the most traumatic story we have ever faced and doing so sensitively, accurately & tirelessly. All while facing constant abuse and personal threats
We are all thinking of these three girls and their families.
I can’t imagine how heartbroken the family and friends of Elsie are yet they managed to give her an amazing send off this morning.
The tributes and eulogies were emotional but painted a clear picture of the amazing person that she was.
RIP Elsie.
This is the moment Alice Da Silva Aguiar arrived at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Southport as crowds erupted into applause.
Dozens of people walked behind the cortège as her family arrived in hearses with pink ribbons tied to the front.
Journalism is a job we’re all extremely passionate about, but today I, along with many of my colleagues, will not be working as we fight for a fairer deal for everyone
#NUJReachStrike
Floods of people followed the cortège as it made its way down Marshside Road.
That concludes my coverage of what has been a heartbreaking day for the families and friends of Alice Da Silva Aguiar. A beautiful ceremony followed by hundreds.
RIP Alice.
Today will see Alice Aguiar laid to rest in Southport just short of two weeks since the horrifying attack that killed two other children.
I’ll be in attendance as hundreds are expected to line the streets this afternoon. My thoughts are with her family.
One week on from the day that shook Southport to its core, sending ripples across every part of the town, we look at what the community is doing going forward.
From myself and
@MeganJBanner
Just arrived at
@LPL_Airport
as I head to Amsterdam to cover Liverpool fans flooding the streets of Amsterdam ahead of their match with Ajax tonight
@LivEchonews
Liverpool principal owner John W. Henry says the commitment of Fenway Sports Group to the Reds remains ‘stronger than ever’, in an exclusive interview with the ECHO
@LiamThorpECHO
and the rest of my colleagues have done an amazing job covering this heartbreaking story that has touched most of Merseyside.
The
@LivEchonews
is now backing a fundraiser to save the hospice.
“Elsie was an amazing little girl. She had the ability to light up any room that she entered, she was truly unforgettable.”
Elsie’s family have released a moving tribute ahead of “Elsie’s Special Day” today.
Emily, speaking to Jenni and David, said: “Your beautiful, perfect little girl made you her mummy and daddy and that can
never be taken away. Elsie was a gift given to you and to her sister and she
made your lives immeasurably joyful.
The tributes on the corner of Hart Street and Tithebarn Road have spilled out into the street overnight, with people placing teddy bears in plastic bags to protect them from the rain
Today is my last day at the
@EFL
and it has been an amazing 6 months at the company. Albeit short and sweet, I can’t thank everyone I’ve worked with enough for fun they brought to the job
But I’ve decided to make the jump down south and will be starting my new job at
@PA
in London next week.
Made many friends for life and covered some of the biggest stories in Merseyside during my time at the Echo. Very thankful for everything🥲 (2/2)
These are the tributes outside Farnborough Road Primary School where Elsie Dot Stancombe attended. A moving framed tribute from the school sits next to bouquets of flowers.
“We will miss you, Elsie. You were one of a kind. You will always be a Farnborough girl.”
Keisha travelled dad to the UK with her dad who had dementia in 2020 before going on to smash her GCSEs despite being placed in foster care after arriving in Southport.
She’s decided to stay on at the Sixth Form as well. A remarkable journey for the teen
Head Girl Jess Plows has managed A* A* A and is off to Newcastle University to study Law. After juggling three bar jobs a long side her exams and working six nights a week Jess is deservedly over the moon