A third child has died in Southport.

[Conniebygaslight]

Incomprehensible and senseless. Absolutely devastating. 💔💔💔

Also a man who works as a window cleaner and as a PT (and from the pictures does not look white) confonted the attacker and carried a child away from there.

I've been absolutely astounded recently at behaviour in schools that I think - because it puts children and adults at risk - should merit exclusion and yet the children not excluded. We do need to move to zero tolerance but at the moment there's such pressure on schools to keep kids in school and often nowhere else for these children to go.

Also needing tacked is the issue of untreated mental health crisis, again particularly in boys and young men. Not infrequently it manifests in violence against both themselves and others.
Sure. But it always strikes me that these lunatics never seem to rush into a fire station or a boxing gym and start attacking big burly men, do they? They always aim for the most vulnerable.
Still, I’m heartbroken for all involved. I have teenage/ young adult sons. I’m heartbroken for the parents of the attacker too, and the attacker himself even. It’s so senseless. So much pain all around. The whole thing is horrifying.

I’d be very surprised if serious mental health issues aren’t at least a factor in this.

Men and boys need better role models, there just aren't any good ones.
All the men that men & boys look up to admire and want to emulate, they're all 'bad boys'.

Has there been any suggestion officially about mental health issues? I have looked at the articles but i dont see much about it.

No point in speculating on the mental health of the perpetrator

That's an interesting point. A couple of years ago my son invited 4 of his friends round his grandparents house. My dad is a successful businessman but from a working class background. Over the course of the week those lads started to idolise my dad, they still do. He was a strong male, role model for them. I was incredulous. They wanted, no needed a figure to look up to to try and emulate.

@PontiacFirebird
Sure. But it always strikes me that these lunatics never seem to rush into a fire station or a boxing gym and start attacking big burly men, do they? They always aim for the most vulnerable
The goal is to feel powerful and in control, to be the victor, obviously they will be attracted to victims who will allow this.
That's why women and girls are targeted because they are weaker, much less likely to put up a fight.
It's not rocket science!

This is devastating and heartbreaking. Familes destroyed forever in the blink of an eye.

Those poor wee mites and those brave adults who tried to intervene are who we should be thinking of.

The murderer's killing spree is not that of someone of sound mind. Some murders can be figured out as to why---jealousy, revenge, financial gain. These murders, no

Same. My 6 and 8 year old are at a school holiday club today and I can't wait to go and collect them. It could have been any of us.

Is there anyway to give to the affected families?

It's just so so awful

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, the parents and the people of Southport.💔

Very rarely do I see something on the news that brings tears to my eyes but this has. Those poor poor children and their families it is truly horrific. DH uses twitter and said there are many comments about who may be responsible but unless it is published on a proper news outlet I shall reserve judgement.

I don’t know how a person could do this particular crime and not be mentally ill.

Mental illness is reaching epidemic proportions and unfortunately we live in a world where everyone has access to social media that can and does often encourage and glamourise violence. We all also have access to lethal weapons…be it a knife or a vehicle. Even crossbows are readily available to adults. I don’t know what the answer is, all I keep thinking of is the absolute terror that those little girls will have felt in that moment.

Quire frankly, I don't give a damn about his 'mental illness', or whatever contrived reasons will turn up, as long as he never sees the light of day again.

That's why women and girls are targeted because they are weaker, much less likely to put up a fight.
It's not rocket science!
I didn’t say it was. My point is that even though a young man would have to be mentally ill to do something like this, mental illness is always used as the reason/ excuse. And yet the mental illness doesn’t just make them indiscriminately crazy. They are sane enough to plan and choose their victims.

I'm sorry but these 'holding tighter' posts really piss me off

I barely let my 7yr old go last night, just wanted to keep her by side.

All the namby pamby mustn’t punish snowflake kids in any way doesn’t help. Teachers aren’t allowed to discipline. Parents are up in arms if they do. You see it on mumsnet all the time. ‘My child lied, stole and bullied and it’s not fair they are not allowed on the school trip’

I think it has ramifications in law so no I’d not say for sure about being of sound mind or not.

Why?

People don’t become child killers because teachers can’t be strict enough. For goodness sake.