Grieving Southport mother calls for peace amid violent EDL protests and police clashes

Jenni Stancombe, the mother of seven year old Elsie Dot Stancombe, who died along with two other children in the Southport knife attack, has made a powerful plea to 'stop the violence' in the town

The mother of one of the children tragically killed in the Southport knife attack has made a heartfelt plea to 'stop the violence' following last night's disturbing scenes in the town. Jenni Stancombe, whose seven-year-old daughter Elsie Dot Stancombe was one of the victims, used social media to make her powerful appeal.

Elsie was killed during a horrific attack at a Taylor Swift dance party on Hart Street on Monday lunchtime. Alice Aguiar, aged nine, and six-year-old Bebe King also lost their lives in the attack, while two adults and five other children are still fighting for their lives in hospital.

As Southport struggles to come to terms with this shocking tragedy, hundreds of locals attended a vigil in the town centre yesterday evening, which was observed respectfully. However, not far away, chaos was unfolding.

• Read more: 39 police officers injured as violence escalates with cars torched and mosque targeted
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Police were called to a disturbance during a protest outside a mosque on St Luke's Road in the town. In what has been labelled as 'sickening' scenes, dozens of officers were injured and a major incident was declared. Bricks taken from garden walls were used to attack officers and cars belonging to members of the public were set ablaze, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Eight police officers sustained serious injuries including fractures, lacerations, a suspected broken nose and concussion. Other officers suffered head injuries and serious facial injuries. One officer was knocked unconscious.

Violence erupted in Southport when a group, believed to be English Defence League supporters, began attacking a local mosque on St Luke's Road and setting cars ablaze on Tuesday evening. The unrest saw damage to a convenience store, wheelie bins torched, and even three police dogs injured.

Social media has been flooded with images and footage of individuals throwing rocks at officers, climbing on police vans, and trying to break the windows. The outbreak of violence has drawn condemnation from figures including the Prime Minister and Home Secretary.

However, perhaps the most poignant plea for peace comes from Jenni Stancombe, whose daughter was one of the three young girls tragically killed in Southport on Monday. In a heartfelt message that has gone viral on social media, she implored: "This is the only thing that I will write, but please stop the violence in Southport tonight."

Ms Stancombe praised the police, saying: "The police have been nothing but heroic these last 24 hours and they and we don't need this."

Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss expressed his pride in the force's response to violence in Southport: "Tonight, Merseyside Police has faced serious violence in Southport and I am so proud to have witnessed off-duty officers (many of whom had not long finished a full shift) parade back on duty to support their colleagues who had displayed such courage whilst under constant and sustained attack. I would also like to thank officers from Greater Manchester Police, Cheshire Police, Lancashire Police and North Wales Police who also provided mutual aid and support."

He continued, detailing the damage caused by offenders: "Sadly, offenders have destroyed garden walls so they could use the bricks to attack our officers and have set cars belonging to the public on fire, and damaged cars parked in the Mosque car park."

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer commented on the incident: "The people of Southport are reeling after the horror inflicted on them yesterday. They deserve our support and our respect. Those who have hijacked the vigil for the victims with violence and thuggery have insulted the community as it grieves. They will feel the full force of the law."