The Southport murders could have been prevented if the killer's parents and authorities had acted in the years leading up to the attack, an inquiry found. Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6, were killed during an indiscriminate knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop on 29 July 2024. It is "highly likely" the attack would not have occurred if various agencies had dealt with the killer's behaviour earlier, the inquiry also found. Inquiry chair Sir Adrian Fulford said had appropriate procedures been in place, "this dreadful event would not have happened.” The killer, who was 17 at the time, seriously wounded eight other children and two adults in the attack. He has since been sentenced to at least 52 years in prison. Tap the link in BBCNews’s bio to read more about the inquiry. (📷 PA) #Southport #BBCNews