On the Southport Attack
Another Place, an art installation by Antony Gormley located at Crosby Beach in Merseyside, near Southport.
On Monday, July 29th, we were left devastated by the brutal knife attack that cost the lives of three children in Southport and left several others in critical condition. The motive of the attacker remains unknown. What is known is that he targeted young girls who were celebrating life and friendship while dancing to Taylor Swift's music.
Swifties for Southport have started a fundraiser for charities in support of the victims, and we encourage you to support that effort here.
Following the attack, speculation and baseless rumors started spreading online. Some evidence suggests these rumors originate with and have been amplified by Russian-linked disinformation channels.
In this case, the baseless rumors shared in the immediate aftermath of the attack had a devastating impact, leading to multiple days of riots, property damage, and attacks against police officers.
“This response to a devastating attack is unacceptable.”
As a company focused on counter-terrorism and intelligence gathering, we encourage caution with any information shared in the immediate aftermath of attacks. Authorities and researchers require time to identify and verify relevant information; in many cases, clear answers may never be found. However, in most cases, official sources will share as much as they can as investigations and judicial processes proceed.
While we do not know what motivated the initial attack, we know that the rioters were motivated by Islamophobia and Xenophobia, staging their riots to target a local mosque. Among the rioters are members of the far-right groups Patriotic Alternative and the English Defence League.
This response to a devastating attack is unacceptable.
It further escalates hate, polarization, and fear in an already traumatized community. It is disrespectful to the victims, the survivors, and everyone else affected by the attack.
In a statement, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "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."
We share the Prime Minister's sentiment and stand with the victims in Southport in these trying times as we continue to investigate and monitor this evolving situation, the riots, ties to state-sponsored influence efforts, and ties to known extremist networks and sentiments.