Family pay tribute to girl, 9, killed in Southport stabbings
The third victim in the horrific attack in Southport has been named as her family pay tribute to their 'princess'.
The nine-year-old child has been named as Alice Aguiar, from Portugal, who had been attending a Taylor Swift-themed holiday class at a dance studio on Monday (29 July) when the attack took place.
A translated statement on Facebook from relative Carina Aguiar - who is believed to be Alice's auntie - reads: "Princess Alice. In this moment of great pain... it hurts the body... it hurts the mind. A lump in the throat.
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"You were just an innocent child, a happy little girl, smiling, who had a funny life ahead.
"Which despicable being took... no pain, no mercy... without any reason at all.
"Fly high little star... love you."
A GoFundMe page has also been set up for the family, created by colleagues of Alice's mother.
"We at Benridge Care Homes and Good Companions, have been completely stunned by the tragic loss of Alice, following the horrific events that took place in Southport yesterday. We can't even begin to imagine how the family feel," the page reads.
"Alice is the daughter of one of our team here & she has been a part of the Good Companions family since she was a baby, joining in with many of our activities & events with our families & staff.
"Benridge Care Group would like to help support the family, so we kindly request donations towards costs that the family will be faced with."
Meanwhile, Portuguese officials have said, as per LBC: "Portugal’s Consul General in Manchester is assisting the family, having spoken to her parents, and is continuing to offer them all the support they need."
Five other children remain in a critical condition, as well as two adults who were also present.
Tragically, two other children were also killed in the attack.
It is reported that the children were attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at the time of the incident.
While it is not being treated as terror-related, police have said the motive behind the heinous act is currently unclear.
Merseyside Police declared a major incident after the attack, with armed response, 13 ambulances and the fire service called out to the scene, believed to be a holiday club for children aged six to 11.
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: “When they arrived, they were shocked to find that multiple people, many of whom were children, had been subjected to a ferocious attack and had suffered serious injuries.
“It is understood the children were attending a Taylor Swift event at a dance school when the offender armed with a knife walked into the premises and started to attack the children inside.
“As a mum of two daughters, and the nanna of a five-year-old grand-daughter, I cannot begin to imagine the pain and suffering the families of the victims are currently going through, and I want to send them our heartfelt condolences and sympathies.”
Lucy Devine