UK welcomes ‘de-escalation’ of far-right violence after atrocity

LONDON: The UK government welcomed on Monday the “de-escalation” of far-right inspired disorder and rioting following a knife attack that killed three children, but insisted officials remain on “high alert”.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer´s spokeswoman was speaking a day after hundreds of people gathered for the funeral of nine-year-old victim Alice da Silva Aguiar. Mourners wore white, a tradition for some in Portugal, where Alice´s parents hail from. “She was taken from us in an unimaginable act of violence that has left our hearts broken beyond repair,” they said in a statement released through police, adding she was “full of joy, light, and love”.

Two other girls -- Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven -- also died in the attack. Ten others were injured including eight children. The violence in English towns and cities, blamed on the far right, came after misinformation spread about the alleged perpetrator of the mass stabbing on July 29 at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, northwestern England. “We welcome that there has been a de-escalation this weekend. But we´re certainly not complacent and remain on high alert,” the prime minister´s spokeswoman said.