King Charles thanks Southport's community as it recovers from attack

King Charles visited Merseyside for the first time since the Southport attack and riots in the region, with the royal taking his time to thank not just those affected by the tragedy, but who have worked tirelessly since to help rebuild the town. Little more than three weeks on from the attack, the visit provided a boost to those still healing from what happened on Monday, July 29.

The attack sent ripples through the community, touching people of all ages when the news spread that three schoolgirls had been killed and eight children and two adults were hospitalised. But as King Charles stepped out of his car outside The Atkinson to hundreds of people gathered around the floral tributes, it was Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Da Silva Aguiar that remained at the front of people's minds

King Charles took his time to take in the tributes laid in their dozens on the fountain before talking to the members of the public who had spent the last hour gathering ahead of his arrival. He then made his way into Southport Town Hall where he met with the families and victims of those affected by the attack, with the monarch due to meet the bereaved families at a private event in London tomorrow, Wednesday, August 21.

After he spent half an hour talking to those who saw and felt what happened on that day, the King signed the Book of Condolences in the town hall. He then spoke with members of the community who had helped in the aftermath of the attack, from Anthony and Gemma Johnson who were on hand to give out free ice creams during the clean-up following the riots to a group of four schoolgirls who spent days selling lemonade to raise £2,000 for Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

Following his chat with those involved in rebuilding the community, the King was presented with flowers by six-year-old Alice, from Birkdale. The monarch then spent some time chatting with those who had stood in the wind, rain and sunshine to see him, despite running behind schedule, before heading to Southport Community Fire Station.

King Charles arrived at the station where he met with representatives of the emergency services as well as first responders who were at the scene of the attack on the day. He spoke individually to every person from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service and Merseyside Police before meeting and chatting other members of the community.

His Majesty spoke with Chanaka Balasuryla and his wife, the owners of Windsor Mini Mart which was looted and trashed in the riots that engulfed the town the day after the attack on Hart Street, before meeting with the Imam of Southport Mosque Ibrahim Hussein, and Mike and Eva Ainscough who care for the floral tributes and teddies that have amassed outside their home on the corner of Maple Street and Sussex Road in the days and weeks after the attack.

Speaking after meeting the King, Ibrahim said: "He told me it's an awful thing to happen to your community and I thanked him. He said it was awful what happened to your mosque and to your community. I thanked him for always supporting us, he knows what Islam is all about, he knows we are cultured people."

He continued: "A visit from His Majesty just tops it off after all the support from the community. I feel like we’re being picked on. It shows not everyone thinks the same.”

Following his talk with people in the community, including the directors of Bloxt Construction who helped rebuild the walls of the mosque after the riots, King Charles spent time speaking with the local leaders such as metro mayor Steve Rotheram, Southport MP Patrick Hurley and leader of Sefton Council Marion Atkinson.

His Royal Highness left the town after spending hours showing his respects and thanking the community for their continued efforts to rebuild Southport into what it was before it was torn apart by the tragedy that unfolded three weeks ago.