Southport Community Spirit
A mass stabbing targeting children occurred at a dance studio in Southport, Merseyside. Three children were killed, and 10 other people – eight of whom were children were injured. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, misinformation about the identity of the attacker began to spread widely on social media. The following day Southport was then hit with a riot that overshadowed a memorial service for the girls. Rioters threw bricks at the police and attacked a mosque – this then led to widespread rioting over a few days across England.
An assignment for Helsingin Sanomat to meet with local residents and how they showed community spirit in response to the stabbing tragedy. Amongst others we met with an elderly couple and their grand-daughter who live by the police cordon where members of the public had left flowers and cuddly toys that were protected from the rain with plastic sheeting. They looked after the flowers and kept them in good condition and also sorted out the many toys that would go to charity.
