Southport stabbings: Mother asked for dance class recommendations two days before 'happy smiley' daughter, nine, was stabbed to death - as relatives say her parents are 'not speaking, only crying'

The mother of Southport stabbing victim Alice Aguiar had asked for holiday dance class recommendations just two days before her 'happy, smiley' daughter was killed.

Alice, nine, died in the early hours of Tuesday after a hooded knifeman entered the Taylor Swift-themed holiday club and began stabbing the children in attendance, as well as staff who tried to protect them.

Relatives of Alice have now revealed her heartbroken parents are 'not speaking, only crying' after the death of their daughter alongside Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested by police on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. Police have said that, although the motive for the attack is unclear, it is not believed to be terror-related and the suspect was born in the UK.

Just two days before the horror attack on Monday, Alice's mother Alexander Aguiar posted in local Facebook groups asking for holiday clubs for nine-year-olds.

She wrote: 'Looking for recommendations for holiday clubs for a nine-year-old to start between 7:30-8:00 am.' 

As well as the three little girls killed, five other children remain in hospital in a critical condition alongside two women.

Another three children were also taken to hospital, with other members of the public treated at the scene. 

Alder Hey Children's hospital yesterday released a statement confirming that seven children had been taken to the site for treatment. One of those was Alice, and of the others, two remain in a critical condition, a spokesperson said.

Her mother's heartbreaking post was revealed hours after serious disorder and rioting in Southport last night, with police blaming activists from the far-right English Defence League, most of whom they said were not local to the area.

At least 39 police officers and three police dogs were injured as they tried to restore calm after a mosque was attacked, cars set alight and bricks thrown. Of those, 27 were taken to hospital.

Responding to the violence, little Elsie's mother appealed for calm, saying: 'This is the only thing that I will write, but please stop the violence in Southport tonight.

'The police have been nothing but heroic these last 24 hours and they and we don't need this.'

It was also revealed this morning that Alice's heartbroken parents are 'not speaking, only crying' as they grieve their daughter.

The youngster's aunt Graca Freitas, whose brother David is Alice's father, revealed: 'We're constantly calling and David picks up.

'But he only cries, he doesn't talk. It's the same with his wife.'

Admitting she still hadn't come to terms with what had happened, Graca told a local paper in her native Madeira where Alice's parents migrated to the UK from: 'I found out about the scale of the tragedy on Monday from the TV.

'But I only found out about Alice yesterday morning. I began to cry uncontrollably. I'm in agony. I have grandchildren and I watched her grow up.

'I don't know what will happen next and whether Alice's body will be brought back here or not.

'She was born in the UK. Her parents have lived there for more than 15 years. It's difficult to know what they're going to do because they're constantly crying and managing to have a conversation with my brother is complicated.'

Alice's grandfather Jose Aguiar, who also lives in the village of Quinta Grande a 20-minute drive from the Madeiran capital Funchal, was too distraught to speak to reporters.

Village priest Pedro Nobrega said he would be holding a mass in the next few days for Alice and her family.

He said in an emotional message on social media: 'What we can do at this time is pray that Alice can be a light in the immense Light of Heaven.

'Pray for her parents, family and friends. Pray so that she can be a 'guardian angel' in the lives of all those who remain here.

'May Alice continue her dance in Heaven. May she rest in peace.

'I would like to inform you that we will be celebrating masses in our parish for Alice and her family in the near future.'

Quinta Grande's parish council said overnight: 'We express our most sincere condolences to the family of Alice da Silva Aguiar, a girl with origins in our parish.

'To her parents, other relatives and friends, strength and courage at this great moment of pain.

'Let the memory of Alice be stars and light and console all your hearts.'

A spokesman for the Madeiran regional government said in a statement yesterday: 'It was with great sadness that the Regional Government of Madeira learned of the death of nine-year-old Alice Aguiar, the daughter of Madeirans, following the attack on a dance centre in Southport, UK.

'The Regional Government, through the Regional Directorate for Communities and External Cooperation (DRCCE), sends a heartfelt hug to the parents and its deepest condolences to the bereaved family.

Portuguese PM Luis Montenegro said: 'It is with deep sadness that I received the news on the attack that took place yesterday in Southport in the United Kingdom, for which I have no words to describe.

'On my behalf and that of the Portuguese government I express heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the British government and people.'