Community vigil organised to ‘show how much we care’ after Southport stabbing attack

A vigil is to be held in Southport this evening to remember all those killed or injured in the Southport stabbing.

Young mum Karlie Walker has organised the act of support which will take place in Town Hall Gardens outside The Atkinson in Lord Street from 6pm.

She said:

“It will be a quiet time of reflection and a coming together to remember the poor children who have lost their lives and the people who are fighting for theirs.

“It is to show how much we care for our community.

“This shouldn’t have happened but it has, and we want the families to know we are here for them.”

Karlie says like most people, she knows people and friends who have been affected by the attack.

“We all know someone, this is a small community,”

“I have lived in Southport all my life, it is a beautiful place and such a close community, and that’s why I wanted to be with my community and other people do too. It’s driven by emotion and the vigil has grown in momentum because the community wants to be together.”

In a Facebook post last night, Karlie said:

“In sadness we stand together. I’m so heartbroken to see today unfold.

“I can’t imagine the heartbreak of the families involved. I would like to show these families that as a community, everyone in Southport supports you.”

She said the act of people from the seaside town gathering together would show support and solidarity.

Labour MP for Southport Patrick Hurley has spoken about the vigil following yesterday’s knife attack in which two children were killed.

A third child has died, it was revealed today, from her injuries, and five other children and two adults remain in a critical condition.

Mr Hurley said his thoughts and prayers went out to the victims and families of the ‘horrific’ and ‘senseless’ attack, and he thanked the community for sticking together and helping all those affected in the aftermath.

He went on:

“This is shocking news for our community, but we will stand strong against this mindless violence and I will work with other community leaders to help our town and our community pull through this horrific incident.”

Sefton Council also says it is supporting the vigil being held in Southport town centre later.

Cllr Marion Atkinson Leader Sefton Council Leader said: “It is entirely understandable and appropriate that local people want to gather and show their support and solidarity.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected at this incredibly sad time.”

A Book of Remembrance is available for people to sign at The Atkinson, in Southport, and one is being set up at Bootle Town Hall.

Businessman Jonathan Hayes was one of the people said to have put his life in danger to try to disarm the attacker.

Mr Hayes, 63, who has a legal services company in the same building where the attack took place, was wounded in the leg as he tried to stop the ferocious attack.

In a report in the Daily Telegraph, his wife Helen said her husband had put himself in between the suspect and the children, after ‘he heard screams’.

She went on, it said:

“Our office is in the same building as the dance studio, he heard screams and went outside, saw the attacker, saw that he had hurt a child and tried to take the knife off him and got stabbed in the leg.”

Mrs Hayes, whose husband was said to be facing an operation today, added: “He’s very upset that he wasn’t able to be more help. Physically he will be OK, mentally I don’t know.”