The family of 6-year-old Bebe King — who was killed along with two other children in a July 29 fatal stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance class in Southport, England — is speaking out.
In a statement from Merseyside Police on behalf of King’s parents, Lauren and Ben King, obtained by PEOPLE, the couple and their nine-year-old daughter Genie paid tribute to Bebe, who they described as “full of joy, light and love.”
“On Monday, July 29, our world was shattered by the loss of our precious daughter, Bebe. Along with two other beautiful souls, Elsie [Dot Stancombe] and Alice [Dasilva Aguilar]she was taken from us in an unimaginable act of violence that left our hearts broken beyond repair,” Bebe’s family wrote.
They added: “Our beloved Bebe, just six years old, was full of joy, light and love and will forever remain in our hearts as the sweet, kind and energetic little girl we adore.”
Photo of Bebe King, 6, shared by her family.
The King family
All the children injured in the mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift themed event have been released from the hospital
The family went on to praise the “outpouring of love and support from within our community and beyond”, describing it as “a source of incredible comfort during this unimaginably difficult time. From the pink lights illuminating Sefton and Liverpool, to the pink bows, flowers, balloons, cards and candles left in her memory, we are overwhelmed by the kindness and compassion towards our family.”
They added: “The response from Southport, across Liverpool and even further afield has touched our hearts deeply, and we are very grateful to everyone who reached out.”
The statement further “acknowledges” their older daughter Genie, who “witnessed the attack and managed to escape”.
“She has shown such incredible strength and courage and we are so proud of her. Her resilience is a testament to the love and bond she shared with her little sister, and we will continue to support her as we navigate this painful journey together as a family,” the family said.
“Our thoughts are with everyone else involved in this tragedy and all those who were injured. We hope they find strength and healing in the days ahead,” they wrote, adding to the children who witnessed the incident: “We send our love and hope that they too can begin to heal, surrounded by the care and support of those who love them.”
The family also thanked emergency services and “our community, friends and strangers who have shown us such love,” adding that their “thoughts” go out to the families of 7-year-old Elsie and 9-year-old Alice, who were also killed in the incident.
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Photo of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, who were killed in an attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class.
Courtesy of Merseyside Police
‘Always our princess:’ Child victim of Southport stabbing at Taylor Swift-themed event identified
“Our hearts are broken, but we find comfort in knowing that Bebe was so loved by all who knew her. She will forever be our shining star and we will carry her with us in everything we do”, they concluded their statement and signed it “with love and gratitude”.
Police previously said a 17-year-old suspect, armed with a knife, entered a dance studio on Hart Street in Southport, England, on July 29 and attacked the group.
Officers responded to the scene for reports of a stabbing around 11:50 a.m. that morning and said the suspect had been arrested.
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Police in Hart Street Southport, Merseyside, where a man was detained and a knife seized after a number of people were injured in a stabbing report.
James Speakman/PA Images via Getty
Authorities said at the same press conference that two children were killed and eight children and two adults were injured. One of the adults has been identified as yoga teacher Leanne Lucas, who organized the dance and yoga class, the BBC reports. The Times an.d The Guardian.
Police said at the time that the incident was “being treated as terrorism-related and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with it.”
On July 30, authorities confirmed that a third child had died from injuries sustained in the attack. In a Merseyside Police press release on the same day, all three children were identified.
According to a press release on August 1, Merseyside Police announced that a teenage suspect had been charged with the murders of the three girls, as well as possession of a bladed object and 10 counts of attempted murder.
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After the stabbing, Swift shared a message on her Instagram Stories, writing in part, “I’m in complete shock… The loss of life and innocence, and the terrible trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families and the first responders.”
“They were just little kids at a dance class. I’m at a complete loss as to how to even convey my condolences to those families,” she added.
Merseyside Police said in a press release obtained by PEOPLE on August 8 that the last hospitalized child injured in the attack has been released from hospital.
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Source: HIS Education