Teenager charged with murder of three girls in Southport stabbing attack

Eight other children suffered knife wounds, with five of them in a critical condition, while two adults were also critically hurt. Disorder has broken out across the country following the attack, with more than 100 people arrested at a protest in Whitehall on Wednesday night.

The teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates Court and has been remanded into youth detention accommodation and will appear at Liverpool Crown Court later today.

Speaking at a press conference just after midnight on Thursday, Chief Constable of Merseyside Police Serena Kennedy said: "A 17-year old-boy from Banks has been charged with the murders of Bebe, Elsie Dot and Alice, 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article following the tragic incident in Southport on Monday July 29.

"The 17 year old cannot be named for legal reasons as he’s under 18.

"He has been remanded in custody to appear (today), Thursday August 1, at Liverpool Magistrates Court, Derby Square.

"Whilst these charges are a significant milestone within this investigation, this remains very much a live investigation and we continue to work with our partners from Lancashire Police and counter-terrorism police in the North West."

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The boy, who was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents, is from the village of Banks, just outside Southport.

Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire Sarah Hammond said: “We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

Thousands of people turned out to pay their respects to the victims at a vigil in Southport on Tuesday evening, but violence later erupted outside a mosque in the town with 53 police officers and three police dogs injured.

Five men have been arrested following the violence.

There were also scenes of unrest in Hartlepool and Manchester overnight while a demonstration in Aldershot saw a tense stand-off with riot police.

Confrontations continued late into the night in Hartlepool, where demonstrators set fire to a police car and pelted officers with missiles, including glass bottles.

Cleveland Police have so far made eight arrests, with more expected.

Manchester police confronted another demonstration outside the Holiday Inn on Oldham Road before dispersing the crowd after protesters started throwing beer bottles at officers and members of the public.

According to the Manchester Evening News, this incident also saw chants of: "We want our country back" while a group of men were seen jumping in the path of a bus, smashing its wing mirror and assaulting a passenger.

Aldershot appears to have escaped the violence seen in other parts of the country, but a demonstration there was still met by riot police.