Boy, 12, becomes youngest to be charged in riots after murders in Southport | UK News

A 12-year-old boy has become the youngest person to be charged over the riots that broke out following the murder of three girls in Southport.

The young man, who cannot be named due to his age, was charged with violent disorder in the Merseyside town on 30 July.

Merseyside Police said he was among three men charged over the riot which broke out the day after six-year-old Bebe King, nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe were stabbed in a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. on July 29th.

More than 50 police officers were injured when around 1,000 people gathered outside a mosque after misinformation spread about the identity of the suspect.

The boy, from Southport, is due to appear at Merseyside Youth Court, while Harvey Gabbott, 21, from Tarleton, Lancashire, and Paul Dryhurst, 33, from Litherland, are due to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court, also charged with violent disorder because of of the rebellion.

So far, a total of 30 people have been charged over riots in Southport and Liverpool, while police have made 927 arrests and prosecutors have charged 466 people across the country as of Sunday.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman Sir Keir Starmer said the government “will not rest until the job is done” when asked whether the police and courts will continue to pursue those involved in the riots.

He said he remains on “high alert” for more unrest, adding: “The work will not be done until people feel safe in their communities.”

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