Grieving Parents Call for End to Riots Following Tragic Loss

The family of Alice da Silva Aguiar, a victim of a stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed event in Southport, England, appealed for calm at her emotional funeral, amidst nationwide riots sparked by false online claims. Authorities have arrested over 900 individuals, while police and politicians work to quell further violence.


Devdiscourse News Desk | Updated: 11-08-2024 21:35 IST | Created: 11-08-2024 21:35 IST
Grieving Parents Call for End to Riots Following Tragic Loss
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The family of Alice da Silva Aguiar, one of three young girls tragically murdered at a Taylor Swift-themed event in Southport, England, has appealed for an end to the nationwide rioting that followed their deaths. The emotional plea was made at Aguiar's funeral, where the area's police chief conveyed the parents' message to the congregation.

Aguiar, 9, and two other girls were fatally stabbed in an attack that also left eight others injured. The incident triggered days of riots fueled by false online claims wrongly identifying the suspect as an Islamist migrant. Authorities have since charged a British teenager, clarifying that the attack is not being treated as terrorism.

During the funeral, Merseyside Chief Constable Serena Kennedy addressed the grieving parents' request for calm. More than 900 people have been arrested and 466 charged, with swift actions by police and politicians deterring further unrest. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced new measures to teach schoolchildren how to identify fake news.

(With inputs from agencies.)

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