Liverpool City Council leader, Cllr Liam Robinson, reflects on the events in Southport in recent days.
As a parent myself, one can only imagine the grief and anguish that those affected by the terrible events in Southport on Monday are going through.
What happened on a summer holiday morning at a dance studio defies belief and comprehension, and has understandably left us reeling.
Three children – Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Dasilva Aguiar – have had their lives ended needlessly, while others have been seriously injured.
Southport’s pain is felt acutely by the entire Liverpool City Region. Many of us will have fond memories of carefree visits to the town – either as children, or with our own children, and will have friends, relatives and work colleagues who are from the area.
Liverpool’s representatives at the vigil – Deputy Leader, Cllr Ruth Bennett, and Lord Mayor, Cllr Richard Kemp
That is why it is important that we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Southport during this dark period, along with Liverpool City Region representatives such as Mayor Steve Rotheram and our Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, and the town’s newly elected MP Patrick Hurley, who I know well from his time as a Liverpool City Councillor.
We have lowered the flags on our civic buildings in Liverpool to half-mast as a mark of respect, and the City was also represented at the moving vigil on Tuesday evening, with Deputy Leader, Cllr Ruth Bennett, and Lord Mayor Cllr Richard Kemp, in attendance.
Sadly, outsiders with a racist agenda have been seeking to exploit the situation and increase community tensions. We have all been appalled by the sickening scenes outside a mosque, targeting the Muslim community. Merseyside Police – who are working day and night to bring the perpetrator to justice – had dozens of their officers assaulted and injured.
It was reassuring that, just as we saw in Liverpool following the riots in the summer of 2011, the disgraceful scenes brought out the true face of our region, with local people out in force this morning to clean-up the damage.
There is no doubt that these are testing times – but as we struggle to come to terms with, and process what has happened, it is vital we stand together, and allow the police and others the time and space to do their job.
For the sake of those who have died and those who have been injured, we need to ensure that justice is done.
