Additional Coverage:
- William and Kate visit U.K. town where girls were murdered at Taylor Swift-themed party (nbcnews.com)
Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, visited Southport, England on Tuesday to offer support to the community still reeling from the tragic knife attack last summer that claimed the lives of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. The royal couple’s visit marks their second trip to the town in the past year.
The July attack, which also left ten other children seriously injured, shocked the nation and sparked widespread rioting fueled by online misinformation. The unrest, initially centered in Southport, quickly spread across the country.
During their visit, the Prince and Princess met privately with the parents of the victims, aged six, seven, and nine. They also visited a newly constructed memorial playground dedicated to two of the young victims and spoke with teachers and pupils about the ongoing impact of the tragedy. Kensington Palace stated on social media that the visit was a return to Southport “to see a community who are pulling together and healing.”
In January, 19-year-old Axel Rudakubana was sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison for the murders. Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time of the attack, was born in Cardiff, Wales to Rwandan parents. Investigators have been unable to determine a motive, despite finding materials on his devices related to Nazi Germany, the Rwandan genocide, and car bombs.
A public inquiry is currently underway to investigate why Rudakubana’s prior involvement with various public bodies, including referrals to a counter-radicalization program, did not result in preventative action.