Summary

  • The inquiry into the deadly Southport attack has resumed

  • Parents of murdered girls Alice Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe have given their evidence

  • The three girls were killed and ten others were injured at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the Merseyside town on 29 July 2024

  • The inquiry is looking into the perpetrator's history and interaction with state agencies and any missed opportunities to prevent the attack

  • Families of those who survived have told the inquiry of the devastating effect on their lives

  • The children's dance teacher earlier described how she hid in a toilet with a child as the attacker banged on the door

  • Warning: This page contains distressing content

Live Reporting

Edited by Marc Waddington, with Yunus Mulla and Judith Moritz reporting from the inquiry and Jonny Humphries from Liverpool

  1. Recap: Last week's evidence

    Tom Mullen
    BBC News

    Leanne Lucas and Heidi Liddle

    Here's a quick recap of where things are at.

    The inquiry last week heard from yoga teacher Leanne Lucas, who was critically injured in the attack. She told of the "devastating impact" the killing had had on her and so many other lives.

    Also giving evidence was her fellow teacher Heidi Liddle, who told how she hid with a child in a toilet cubicle as the killer banged on the door.

    Several parents of girls who survived the stabbing also gave evidence and told of their experiences as the atrocity unfolded.

    A 14-year-old girl was also praised for her bravery in speaking to the inquiry, describing how the eyes of the killer "didn't look human".

  2. Girls' families hope 'no stone left unturned'

    The girls killed in the Southport attackFamily handouts

    The families of the three girls who were killed in the attack hope the public inquiry will leave "no stone unturned", their solicitor has said.

    Christopher Walker said: "My clients, the three bereaved families, hope the inquiry will leave no stone unturned in establishing the facts around what led to this day.

    "As both the chair and the prime minister have said, Southport must be a line in the sand, and this inquiry must lead to change.

    "We already know that the attack was preventable. What is important to establish now is how and why."

  3. Southport inquiry set to resume

    The public inquiry into the Southport knife attack is due to resume shortly at Liverpool Town Hall with evidence expected from the parents of the three girls who were killed.

    The inquiry is tasked with examining the background of Axel Rudakubana, the 18-year-old who is serving a minimum sentence of 52 years for murdering three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on 29 July 2024.

    At the inquiry's request, we will not be using his name throughout our coverage and if necessary will refer to him by his initials, AR.

    The inquiry will focus on his dealings with all of the relevant agencies, along with any missed opportunities to prevent what happened.