Aoife Walsh
Live editor

Image source, Reuters

The community in Southport continues to grieve following the shock of Monday's stabbing attack, with more details related to the incident emerging throughout today.

Merseyside Police named the three children who died in the attack as Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine. Five children and two adults remain in a critical condition, the force said.

A 17-year-old boy remains in custody. Police have urged the public not to engage in speculation about the suspect's identity, saying a name that's been circulated online is incorrect.

Earlier this evening, large crowds gathered at a vigil to hold a minute's silence for the victims, while flowers and handwritten notes from mourners piled up near the scene of the attack.

A few hours after the vigil, disorder broke out close to where the stabbing took place. In a statement, police said a van was set alight, officers were injured and shops were broken into and looted. The situation now appears to have calmed.

We're pausing our live coverage shortly. You can read more on what happened tonight in Southport here.

• Update at 08:00 on 31 July: Follow the latest coverage from Southport on this page

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The situation outside the mosque appears to have calmed as night falls, with the number of people on the street thinning.

A couple of fires, which appear to be coming from wheelie bins, remain alight.

We're getting reaction now to the unrest in Southport.

The Liverpool Region Mosque Network – a collaborative partnership between mosques in Merseyside – says it's "shocked and horrified by the heinous acts of murder and indiscriminate violence" yesterday which left three young girls dead and injured several others.

In a statement posted on X,, external the group goes on to say: "A minority of people are attempting to portray that this inhumane act is somehow related to the Muslim community. Frankly, it is not".

The group adds that "we must not let those who seek to divide us and spread hatred use this as an opportunity."

Meanwhile, the Muslim Association of Britain , externalsays it stands "united against such intimidation and violence," and urges the community to come together "in peace and solidarity".

Merseyside Police officers who had finished work are back on duty supporting their colleagues in Southport, the force says.

It says that support is being provided by nearby forces Greater Manchester Police, Lancashire Police, Cheshire Constabulary and and North Wales Police.

Police also made an appeal, external for footage after a number of its officers were "injured, cars set alight and a shop broken into and looted".

We've just heard from Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who says it's "appalling" to see police facing "violent attacks from thugs on the street, who show no respect for grieving community".

She also called for people to show respect for the police carrying out an "urgent criminal investigation" and "who showed such heroism and bravery yesterday in the face of these horrific attacks".

Southport MP Patrick Hurley says it's "distressing" to see people from "outside our Southport community attacking our police and local people".

"I want to make it clear that I fully condemn any attack on our emergency services, these are the same services that responded to the tragic attack yesterday," in a post on X., external

Hurley goes on to say local people should avoid the area "to allow the police to do their job".

As we've been reporting, violence has broken out in Southport, hours after a vigil was held to remember the victims of Monday's knife attack. Watch a clip of the clashes below:

Merseyside Police has urged people not to speculate about the identity of the Southport knife attacker.

A 17-year-old boy, born in Cardiff and living in a nearby town, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

Earlier police said the name of a suspect circulated on social media was incorrect.

Police said the unrest tonight broke out after calls for a protest near a mosque close to where the attack happened.

Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss: “There has been much speculation and hypothesis around the status of a 17-year-old male who is currently in police custody and some individuals are using this to bring violence and disorder to our streets.

“We have already said that the person arrested was born in the UK and speculation helps nobody at this time."

Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss has described the scenes in Southport this evening as "sickening".

Officers have had wheelie bins and bottles thrown at them after disorder broke out at a protest near the scene of the knife attack.

He said: “Yesterday, our officers and other members of the emergency services were faced with one of the most difficult situations they will ever face.

"Tonight, they find themselves being attacked as they endeavour to prevent disorder.

“The actions in Southport tonight will involve many people who do not live in the Merseyside area or care about the people of Merseyside."

Merseyside Police have just issued a statement about the clashes in Southport:

"At around 7.45pm, a large group of people – believed to be supporters of the English Defence League – began to throw items towards a local mosque on St Luke’s Road in Southport.

"Officers who are deployed are currently dealing with criminal behaviour and violence with bottles and wheelie bins being thrown at them."

"As a result, an officer has suffered a suspected broken nose and police vehicles have been damaged and set alight.

"Additional patrols are now in attendance, including the Dog Section."

Lesley Hitchen
Reporting from Southport

Less than two hours after the Southport community met to mark a minute’s silence, just a few streets away from that vigil location the air was pierced by smoke canisters, jeers and rocks raining down on riot police.

Hundreds of protesters gathered near a local mosque attacking the front of it, throwing bricks, bottles and rocks, many with hoods up and scarves hiding their faces.

Families living nearby who had come to see what all the noise was all about feared for their safety as stones flew past and police officers rushed to put on riot gear and pick up shields.

“I can’t believe this is happening in Southport,” one young woman shouted from the front of her car as she tried to drive her young daughter away.

Image source, PA Media

Footage from the scene of unrest in Southport circulated on social media shows the situation has deteriorated.

A police van has been set alight and some of the crowd have been seen throwing missiles at police officers.

Riot police have been seen confronting the crowds. We're working to find out more about what is happening on the ground – stay with us.

Warren Moran
Reporting from Southport

A protest near the site of the stabbing attack in Southport has turned violent.

Hundreds of people gathered outside a mosque and began throwing bricks, bottles and other missiles at the mosque and police. At least one policeman was injured.

The crowds are still here and missiles continue to be thrown.

As we've been reporting, locals have been leaving flowers and handwritten notes near the scene of the attack in Southport throughout the day:

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Peter Gillibrand
BBC Newsbeat, reporting from the vigil

Thousands of people gathered at the vigil for the victims of the attack in Southport.

Police closed the main road through the seaside town due to the crowds.

From speaking to people in the crowd, the community feels hurt at what happened but there's also a sense of wanting to come together to help each other in their time of need.

Some businesses I spoke to today said they were closing early just so their staff could get down to the square in front of the Atkinson.

Image source, Reuters

If you're just joining us, here's a glance at the latest developments:

• A minute of silence was held in Southport this evening for the victims of the stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class
• Three children were killed – Bebe King, 6, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7 and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, Merseyside Police confirmed
• Five children and two adults remain in a critical condition after the attack

• In a statement, Bebe's family said: "No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as we try to deal with the loss of our little girl Bebe"
• Alice's family also paid tribute, saying: "Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our Princess"
• The families, who are being supported by specialist officers, have asked that their privacy is respected
• A 17-year-old male arrested on suspicion of murder remains in custody

• Swift said she was "completely in shock" after the "horror" attack
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Southport, where he offered thanks to emergency service workers, telling them he is "incredibly proud" of their response to the incident

More now from the home secretary's statement in the House of Commons.

She praised the emergency services for their "heroic professionalism" in responding to the attack.

"As a police officer said to me when we spoke, they do these jobs knowing they can be called upon in the toughest of times, but nothing still can prepare you for an attack on little children," she says.

Cooper tells MPs the emergency workers returned to work as they wanted to be "out in their own community, continuing to serve".

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has just been speaking in the House of Commons about the attack in Southport, describing it as an "unspeakable tragedy".

Cooper told MPs: "It's difficult to comprehend or to put into words the horror of what happened.

"These were young children, dancing to Taylor Swift and celebrating the start of the school holidays.

"What should have been a joyful start to the summer turned into an unspeakable tragedy."

A vigil for the Southport attack victims is being held in the town.

Jane Burns, the mayor of Sefton, has just told the crowd how she wept when she went to the scene and saw the flowers left by members of the public.

She says: "I hope all of you here find some comfort from something, even if it's someone you meet here today, a stranger.

"Reach out and help. Be kind. Let's allow them families to grieve the way they wish to grieve. I ask for calm and respect at this time."

Image source, PA Media