Bebe King

¶17. Bebe King was killed when she was six years old. She was described by Lauren and Ben King, her parents, as “joyful, hilarious and magical”. She had a unique spark that made her stand out – people were drawn to her kindness, humour, and confidence. She was caring and sensitive, yet sassy and spirited, unafraid to stand up to anything she thought unfair. She was cheeky and funny beyond her years, filling their home with laughter and warmth.⁵²⁵² T/S: 7/34/4-46/8.

¶18. Bebe loved stories, singing, dancing, and performing – especially the musicals Wicked, Hamilton and The Wizard of Oz. She made others feel special without trying, encouraging nervous children at school and dance class, helping them settle and feel confident. She had a natural talent for music, acting and creativity, and had recently developed a love for Taylor Swift which was bringing her even closer to her mother through their car singalongs.

¶19. Bebe had a deep, almost spiritual bond with her mother that had existed from birth. They shared inside jokes, a secret language and a sense of silliness. Her hugs felt to her mother “like home”. She had a playful and loving relationship with her father. They shared bedtime games, built dens and enjoyed simply being together. He adored her and she made “being a dad” feel easy. Losing her has left him broken and adrift.

¶20. Bebe shared music, play and deep trust with her older sister. Indeed, Bebe was her sister’s anchor, especially as the latter struggled with anxiety. They chose to share a room so they would feel close. Bebe had a way of making her sister feel “safe and confident” and loved unconditionally.

¶21. Bebe attended what should have been a safe, joyful Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class. Instead, it became the scene of a brutal attack. Her parents endured agonising hours not knowing if Bebe was alive, before being told in public that she had been murdered.

¶22. Her mother, Lauren, described how she has been broken by grief. She suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), physical pain and a complete loss of the ability to function in daily life. She cannot cook, struggles to complete simple tasks, and lives with constant flashbacks and anxiety. She describes herself as a shell of the person she once was. Her father, Ben, feels that a part of him has gone forever. He struggles with despair and has lost interest in life, often wishing he could be with Bebe again. He is tortured by thoughts which, as he observes, no parent should bear. Bebe’s sister has suffered extreme anxiety because of what occurred, and her ability to be independent has regressed. She now requires daily care and support.

¶23. Bebe’s grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins have been deeply traumatised. Her grandparents had to say goodbye to their six-year-old granddaughter at her funeral. Bebe’s cousin, her best friend, struggles to understand why she will never return. The whole family lives with the weight of the trauma, grief and horror. The attack has devastated not only Bebe’s family but also her school, dance community and their neighbourhood. Hundreds of people have been left traumatised, and the ripple effect has spread far beyond one family.

¶24. Lauren and Ben emphasised that Bebe’s death was preventable. They asked that the Inquiry establishes the truth as to what occurred, identifies accountability and is an instrument for real change: we should avoid what they described as a box-ticking exercise. Although no apology or report can bring Bebe back, changes must be made so that no other child or family in the future endures what they have suffered.

¶25. Bebe was not just a victim – she was a daughter, sister, granddaughter, cousin and friend, loved beyond measure. Her family live by the phrase “Be More Bebe”, meaning to be brave and kind, and describing someone who brings light into the world.

Child C1

¶26. Child C1 was described as having once been a carefree, creative and adventurous child, known by her parents as “our little hippie”. She was full of confidence and joy. Before the attack she lived without fear, but that innocence and sense of safety were taken from her by AR. She suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of 33 stab wounds, which required multiple lifesaving surgeries. She lost her entire blood volume, endured extensive physical trauma and had to relearn how to walk, move and use her hands. Despite her injuries, she showed extraordinary bravery, helping other children during the chaos, shielding them and guiding them to safety, even while gravely wounded.⁵³⁵³ T/S: 2/20/22-34/14. Her recovery has been long and continues daily. She still suffers flashbacks, panic attacks and separation anxiety, and she continues to struggle with her memories. Everyday life – school, dancing, watching films – requires significant support and protection due to the risk of her being reminded of what occurred. Her scars are a painful representation of what has been taken from her.

¶27. Child C1’s parents spoke vividly of their hope that their daughter’s courage will be fully recognised, that she saved herself and others. They highlighted the painful fact that in Child C1’s moment of greatest danger, no adults were there to protect her; instead, there were only children, who supported each other. They expressed their gratitude for the actions of the teachers, who did what they could to save lives. They stressed that the Inquiry must ensure that meaningful change occurs, that there is accountability for what happened, and there is an apology from those responsible for all the relevant failings, to ensure that no child in the future endures similar horrors.

¶28. Despite everything, they are proud of Child C1’s extraordinary strength and continue to support her in rebuilding her life, although all of their lives will never be the same. They ended their statement with a heartfelt tribute to Child C1’s courage and resilience, and a message of solidarity to all the children who were affected: “We will draw stars around your scars”.

Child C2 and Child C7

¶29. Sisters Child C2 and Child C7 were both stabbed during the attack. Child C2 was gravely injured while protecting and saving the life of her younger sister, before Child C7 was guided from the building by another child. They demonstrated extraordinary courage, of a kind that should not be expected of any child. Both underwent surgery in hospital. Their parents described the horror of searching for them, finding them injured and their overwhelming consequential sense of powerlessness.⁵⁴⁵⁴ T/S: 4/8/21-17/15.

¶30. Child C2 and Child C7 both endure nightmares, flashbacks, panic attacks and a fear of noises. They are hypervigilant and unable to sleep alone. Child C2’s scars are visible, and she has severe panic attacks. Child C7 freezes when startled and frequently relives the attack in her dreams. Both struggle with trusting others and they live in constant fear. Nonetheless, despite the trauma they endured, both girls excel at school. Child C2 has channelled her pain into charity work, and she is determined to help others. Their parents are immensely proud of them and have vowed to support them so as to prevent the attack from defining their lives.

¶31. Their parents are continually alert. They are haunted by the memory of what happened, and they take medication to alleviate their enduring sense of anxiety and to assist with sleep. Members of their extended family have also been adversely affected, including their grandfather who witnessed the aftermath of the attack and their brother who struggles to understand how this could have happened.

¶32. The parents are concerned as to how their daughters will cope when they eventually learn more details of what occurred and the ways in which the attack should have been prevented. They stressed the importance of the opportunity for the Inquiry to bring about change.

Child C3

¶33. Child C3 was stabbed three times in the back by AR. Despite being critically injured, she showed remarkable courage, escaping the building and finding safety before receiving life-saving emergency surgery. Her recovery has been slow and difficult. She bears both physical and emotional scars and continues to struggle with flashbacks, sleep difficulties, anxiety, hypervigilance and a fear of loud noises. Her everyday life still requires constant care and adjustment.⁵⁵⁵⁵ T/S: 2/6/20-10/17.

¶34. On the day of the attack, her parents spent six hours waiting to learn if the emergency surgery their daughter had to undergo had been successful. They paid tribute to the staff at Alder Hey Hospital and the skill of the paramedics, surgeons and medical staff that saved their daughter’s life.

¶35. The impact on the family has been profound, and Child C3’s parents described how their own lives have been intricately linked to her ongoing recovery. While they remain a strong family unit, the trauma has been challenging for each of them. Despite this, Child C3 continues to show bravery, positivity and determination. She faces her scars with dignity and refuses to be defined by what happened to her. Her parents described her as a caring, funny, courageous and resilient child, and they are immensely proud of her strength. Surrounded by love and support, they believe she will continue to thrive. To her parents, she is their hero.