This is how Southport responded.
A group of around 100 members of the community are repairing damage to the local mosque, seen here rebuilding a wall.
St Luke’s Road, last night strewn with rubble and debris, has already been cleared.
A group of around 100 members of the community are repairing damage to the local mosque, seen here rebuilding a wall.
St Luke’s Road, last night strewn with rubble and debris, has already been cleared.
Residents arrive with brushes, and water, to help. They’re told - gratefully and thankfully - that much of the work has already been done.
A number of tradesman have given their time and resources for free. A local glazing company offers free window repairs. Sefton Council’s street cleaners are out in full force.
In the space of 20 minutes, the crowd has doubled, at least. This is an industrial effort, with the community carrying out repairs, and wasting the local authority with the clear up.
“We’re fixing the damage that these scumbags did.”
More people arrive each minute. More shovels. More leaf blowers.
Work on the exterior mosque wall stops temporarily, coinciding with the arrival of MRFS staff, likely to begin an investigation into the safety of the building and surrounding areas.
Work on the exterior mosque wall stops temporarily, coinciding with the arrival of MRFS staff, likely to begin an investigation into the safety of the building and surrounding areas.
More residents now, walking with crates of cups of coffee, offered freely.
The crowd has started to decrease in size, as the work required turns into efforts that require more specialist help and equipment.
There’s no fear here, or hatred, just love and support and concern.
There’s no fear here, or hatred, just love and support and concern.
It’s worth mentioning that to genuine residents this is not a surprising response.
Take our own experience while we’ve reported the aftermath of Monday’s horrific atrocity.
We saw children offering chocolate to policemen stood guard on the corden. We saw residents outside their homes offering refreshments and crates of water to national media and well wishers.
We saw children offering chocolate to policemen stood guard on the corden. We saw residents outside their homes offering refreshments and crates of water to national media and well wishers.
We saw business offer services for free, we saw community spaces rush to open, offering safe spaces for quiet reflection.
And at the first opportunity, this is how the people of Southport chose to assemble. In a peaceful, solemn, respectful vigil - initially promoted by a number of local residents and supported by a town centre business group.
Back at the mosque, work continues. By now the surrounding crowd is smaller, and discussing Monday’s tragedy and last night’s riot.
We’re going to end our immediate coverage here. Thank you so much for your support.
Please help our town heal, and give us space to mourn. We’ll forever remember Elsie, Bebe and Alice, the victims who put themselves at risk to help, and the community that helped to rebuild.
Please help our town heal, and give us space to mourn. We’ll forever remember Elsie, Bebe and Alice, the victims who put themselves at risk to help, and the community that helped to rebuild.
A correction on an unfortunate autocorrect error above:
with the community carrying out repairs, and wasting the local authority with the clear up.
should read
with the community carrying out repairs, and assisting the local authority with the clear up.
with the community carrying out repairs, and wasting the local authority with the clear up.
should read
with the community carrying out repairs, and assisting the local authority with the clear up.
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