One year ago, the quiet seaside town of Southport was thrust into the national spotlight after a devastating attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. On 29 July 2023, Axel Rudakubana, then 17, went on a rampage, killing three young girls: Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven. Eight other children and two adults were critically injured.
In the days that followed, the nation's media focused on the mourning Merseyside town. But as the cameras left, the tight-knit community began to rebuild. Sheila Anderson, 62, a long-time resident, said: 'We're just a typical English seaside town – it's quiet and not much happens here. What happened has changed our identity a bit.'
The tragedy was compounded by violent riots that broke out after a vigil for the girls, sparked by misinformation about the killer's identity. Despite this, the community gathered the next morning to clean up, hiring skips and rebuilding walls brick by brick. Brian Anderson, 68, said: 'People are still processing, but we're hoping trouble stays away and we'll get through it.'
Maz Langshaw, 52, runs The Old Bakehouse Coffee Shop, a volunteer-run community interest company that will open as a 'reflection hub' on the anniversary. She said: 'We were all led by the amazing families of the children. They are passionate about making sure the girls have a legacy.' The families have set up charities: Bebe's Hive, Elsie's Story, and Alice's WonderDance Foundation, with much of Southport fundraising for them.
