A 17-year-old boy was arrested after killing three children and injuring eight others. Because of his age, the suspect cannot legally be named. Riots broke out at a local mosque on Tuesday following a vigil held for the victims. People threw bricks, stones and bottles. More than 50 police officers were injured and cars were set on fire. According to authorities this happened as a result of misinformation spreading online about the attacker’s religious faith. The boy was born in Cardiff-born and he is not a Muslim.

Reverend Geoff Felton, a United Reformed Church leader has called for peace and unity: “The town has had enough to deal with, with the attack and to have this other horrendous violence piled on top of them is just so sad. We should be talking about and supporting the families that are grieving and helping them. It’s really important that rather than dividing our communities, we come together. We seek to build communities where people not only flourish but can live in peace and what has gone on in Southport at the moment has ripped a hole right through that.”

Other Christian leaders joined in, offering prayers for all affected in the “horrific” attack and called on “people of all faiths and none to come together to support them in whatever way we can. Life is a precious gift, and for it to be taken from children so young is truly heart-breaking. We offer our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of all of those whose lives have been lost. We pray for those who remain critically ill and injured. We commit ourselves afresh to standing against brutality and violence in every form and doing all we can to build safe, caring and strong communities.”

Source: https://premierchristian.news/