The United Kingdomand not only that, it is in mourning – between desperation, anger, unanswered questions – for the slaughter with cold steel of the little ‘swifties’, targeted in the inexplicable and senseless attack carried out by a 17 years old to Southportcoastal town on the outskirts of Liverpool: yet another episode of delirious violence with a knifemore inconceivable than ever for having been directed with deliberate ferocity against a class of defenseless creaturesbetween 6 and 11 years of age, met on a day in July in the premises of a centre for early maternity and childhood just to spend a few hours of fun dancing to the tunes of the most loved hits of Taylor Swifttaking their first steps in yoga or learning to weave bracelets.
Moments happyin their thoughts and in those of the parents who were preparing to take them home, suddenly plunged into the nightmare of a hell of screams and blood. The toll, which has become more tragic by the hour, may not yet be definitive. Three girls, more seriously injured, did not make it and died a few hours after being rushed to hospital by ambulance and helicopter. While six others remain in hospital, 5 in conditions still defined as “critical”, as do two teachers and another adult.
THE names of those whose lives were cut short so soon after their time already compose a first, heartbreaking Spoon River in miniature: Baby King6 years old, Elsie Dot Stancombeof 7, and Alice Aguiarof 9. The families have released three smiling photos that are almost impossible to hold back the tears: Bebe, with the window of her recently lost baby teeth and a bow on the back of her head; Elsie with her blond hair held in place by a burgundy border; and Alice, brunette and with a crown of white flowers. The identity of the eldest, daughter of Portuguese parents, emerged first, confirmed directly by the government of Lisbon. «Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do, princess – her mother and father, originally from Madeira but transplanted to the Liverpool metropolitan area, on the banks of the Irish Sea -, you will always be our princess, no one can change that.”
Of the killer arrested by Merseyside Police it has meanwhile come to light that he was born in Cardiffin Wales, from immigrant parents from Rwandaand who had been living near Southport with his family since 2013. But the ghosts that led him to sow remain mysterious at the moment death and despair after hiding behind a hood it’s a health mask‘protected by whom he finally allowed himself to be arrested without apparently putting up any resistance, as shown by a video. While the names of the two teachers involved, Leanne Lucas And Heidi Barlowboth 35 years old and both injured in the attempt to stop the infanticidal fury of the 17-year-old. Their “heroism”, together with that of a man who, according to various witnesses, faced the aggressor with his bare hands, is recalled by the media. And highlighted by the Prime Minister Keir Starmerrushed to Southport ahead of a vigil to show solidarity, thank police and emergency workers for the lives that have been saved, but most importantly to pledge his new government’s commitment to fighting the street violence.
A commitment that is not enough to calm the emotions and some protests of those who, in a local community in shock, welcomed him shouting: “How many more children have to die?”. A question that echoes the alarm of a country in which firearms – unlike USA – are severely limited, even in the number of officers; but which is dealing with an escalation of crimes committed with knives and various cutting weapons, which have even doubled in the last decade: in too many cases by young people, very young or unbalanced people. A phenomenon which, translated into the horror of Southport, fuels the dismay of an entire island, from the simplest subjects to King Charles with the Queen Camilla and to the Prince William with Kateparents in turn.
While also Taylor Swiftthe involuntary protagonist of a tragedy to which her British fans have responded by starting online fundraisers, has made it known fromAmerica of feeling “overwhelmed by shock”. Faced with the fate of child victimshis budding admirers, who “just wanted to dance”.