“They will feel the full force of the law,” the prime minister said.
Earlier, hundreds of mourners laid wreaths, toys and candles in tribute to the three girls — Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9 — who were fatally stabbed on Monday while attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance event. The attack, which shocked the nation, also injured 10 others, some critically.
Police arrested a 17-year-old male in connection with the attack and said his motive is unclear but not currently believed to be terror-related.
Although the suspect was born in Cardiff to parents from Rwanda and has no known links to Islam, social media has been rampant with false rumors, including that there is an Islamist connection to the killings and that the attacker was an asylum seeker.
Merseyside Police said injuries to its officers included fractures, lacerations, a suspected broken nose and a concussion. Three police dogs were also hurt. Officers were given enhanced stop-and-search powers as legal orders were imposed on the town to prevent disorder from breaking out again.
“This is no way to treat a community, least of all a community that is still reeling from the events of Monday,” Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss said in a statement.
