UPDATED AGAIN: "Allahu akbar!" in Southport, England

If you haven't heard yet about the knife attack in Southport (near Liverpool), England, the basics are as follows: Two children have been killed and nine injured, six critically, in a "ferocious" knife attack at a children's dance workshop. Two adults are also in a critical condition after being stabbed as they tried to protect children at the Taylor Swift-themed event on Hart Street in Southport, Merseyside Police said.

That's the first part of the BBC report. Click here to read the whole thing, but don't expect to have your suspicions confirmed. All the Beeb is saying is that a 17-year-old boy, from Banks in Lancashire, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. Nothing about the yoof's nationality, status in the UK or religion.

Likewise, the Bobbies [Are they still called that? Ed.] said the motivation for the attack was "unclear", but it was not -- repeat NOT -- being treated as "terror-related." Nothing to see here, folks. Go to some other story and above all don't spread Islamophobia.

But wait, there's more coming down the Mojo wire right now!

Walt's good friends at Blazing Cat Fur report that Merseyside Police have confirmed that a teenager has been arrested following the stabbing "incident." Officers were called to a property on Hart Street around 11:50 AM on Monday to reports of multiple people being attacked, including children and adults. At least one fatality has been reported. 

17-year-old Ali Al-Shakati from Banks has been arrested in connection with the Southport stabbings and is currently in police custody. Mr Al-Shakati, was on the MI6 watch list and known to Liverpool mental health services. He was an asylum-seeker who arrived in the UK by boat last year.

Are you surprised? I didn't think so.

UPDATE ADDED 31/7/24 at 1345: Both the BBC and the Merseyside cops are now saying that the attacker's name is NOT "Ali Al-Shakati". Here's their story:

"The BBC is not repeating the false name here to avoid spreading misinformation. Media organisations cannot give the suspect's real name for legal reasons, but Merseyside Police have said the name shared on social media is incorrect."

As I said, that's their story, as authored by... sorry, can't tell you, for legal reasons. LMAO.

UPDATE ADDED 1/8/24 at 0600: The "legal reasons" for not naming the stabber aren't reasons any more. Whether that's the decision of a judge or just some common sense at The Times (UK) is unclear. 

What is clear, according to The Times is that the Southport attack suspect has been named in court as Axel Rudakubana, 17, shown at left wearing his hoodie. 

Appearing at Liverpool & Knowsley youth court on Thursday morning, the yoof has been charged with three murders, ten attempted murders and of "possessing a kitchen knife with a curved blade." 

Kirpans, worn at all times by religious Sikh men, have curved blades. But Mr Rudakubana doesn't look like a Sikh, does he. In fact, The Times says, he has Rwandan parents and lives in the village of Banks, but is originally from Cardiff, Wales. 

The Times doesn't say anything about his religion though. Rwanda is a former Belgian colony, and a lot of Rwandans are Catholic. But Islam has been making serious inroads there in recent years, as it has throughout sub-Saharan Africa, so I guess we won't know the accused's religion and/or motives until he says something. Don't hold your breath.