Last July, a heartbreaking incident at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport’s The Hart Space studio left three young lives lost, including seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, six-year-old Bebe King, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar, all from our local Haringey community. Their families are still grieving from this tragic event.

The inquiry into this devastating incident is ongoing, with local teacher Leanne Lucas, who was injured during the attack, expected to provide evidence. However, due to her injuries, a summary of her statement was read instead.

In her statement, Ms. Lucas expressed concerns about the lack of safety measures in place, noting that locking the doors to the studio would have violated fire safety regulations. She also mentioned that the police had advised against locking the door, as it could have escalated the situation.

The owner of The Hart Space studio, Jennifer Scholes, also gave her account during the inquiry, mentioning that there had never been any intruders or unwanted visitors before. She described Ms. Lucas as a trusted and dedicated teacher.

As the inquiry continues and awaits further developments after an adjournment until Tuesday, the Haringey community stands in solidarity with the families of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King, and Alice da Silva Aguiar during this difficult time.