Ava White: Liverpool murder arrests after girl stabbed to death

A 12-year-old girl has been stabbed to death during an argument in a city centre.

Ava White was with friends in Liverpool when she was assaulted at 20:40 GMT on Thursday, shortly after the city's Christmas lights switch-on.

Merseyside Police said she suffered "catastrophic injuries" and a weapon was yet to be found.

Four teenage boys, aged between 13 and 15 and from Toxteth, have been arrested on suspicion of her murder.

Police said officers found Ava collapsed on the ground on Church Alley and a member of the public, who had witnessed the incident, was giving her first aid.

Ava, who attended Notre Dame Catholic College in Everton, was taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital with critical injuries but died a short time later.

"We know at the moment that Ava was with her friends in Liverpool city centre and there has been a verbal argument which has escalated to an assault on her involving a knife," Det Supt Sue Coombs said.

"We are able to say there has been a verbal argument and there has been an assault, and the offenders ran off up School Lane, across Hanover Street and into Fleet Street."

Assistant Chief Constable Ngaire Waine said police were not looking for anyone else in connection with Ava's death.

"It's very sad for the city but it is even sadder for her family, their lives are never going to be the same," she said.

"This is a very, very rare event, so I hope that will reassure people."

Paying tribute to Ava, her head teacher Peter Duffy said the Year Eight pupil was a "much loved, valued and unique member of the Notre Dame family".

"She was an incredibly popular girl with a fantastic group of friends," he said.

"My staff are working with students to provide all the support they need at this traumatic time."

Rebecca Flynn, her head teacher at Trinity RC Primary School, said she was a "popular and caring" girl who was "bright and respectful".

Peace campaigner Colin Parry, whose son Tim was killed in the Warrington bomb in 1993, tweeted that Ava had been given a peace ambassador award by his charity in 2019 and her death was a "tragic loss".

Metro Mayor of Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, said he was "horrified" by Ava's death.

"I am angry today for Ava and her family, for the parents across the region worrying about their children's safety and angry that such a heinous act should take place here," he tweeted.

Sarah Doyle, the assistant mayor of Liverpool, said she was "heartbroken" at the "extremely devastating" news.

"It's senseless and I know it will bring a lot of fear to communities across the city," she said.

"I just want to send a message of reassurance that our city is a safe place but I know this will be giving a lot of anxiety to people. We all share in [her family's] unimaginable grief."

Posting on Twitter, Dame Rachel de Souza, children's commissioner for England, said: "This kind of violence involving a child and with such tragic consequences is shocking at any time, but when the victim is 12 it's particularly so."

Mary Katilius, 65, from Limerick, said she had been nearby with her granddaughter when Ava was attacked.

"We heard screams and someone said to call an ambulance. We rushed over straight away but there was already a man helping her," she said.

Det Supt Coombs said a lot of the witnesses were young and would be given special treatment when being interviewed.

Floral tributes have been left near the scene, with one message saying: "Rest in peace angel."

Lacey, 17, who came to lay flowers and a balloon, said her younger sister had been close friends with Ava.

"She was just a bubbly character, so loving and caring," she added.

By Andy Gill, BBC North West Tonight reporter

There is a massive police presence in Liverpool with several of the city's main shopping streets taped off.

Dozens of police vehicles are parked close to the scene where 12-year-old Ava was fatally attacked.

Many shoppers and tourists are having to ask officers how they can get to their destinations as many are unaware of the tragedy which lies behind the disruption to their usual routine.

Ava died on what is called White Ribbon Day, a worldwide campaign to end violence against women and girls.

Civic leaders came together yesterday to mark it and start 16 days of activity to highlight the issue.

The death of a girl, not yet in her teens, throws the need for the campaign into the starkest relief.

The four boys - a 13-year-old, two 14-year-olds and a 15-year-old - remain in custody for questioning.

They were arrested at different locations during Thursday evening and into the early hours of Friday, police said.

A police cordon was in place surrounding Williamson Square, Tarleton Street, Church Street, Church Alley and School Lane crossing over Hanover Street on to Fleet Street.

Several shops on Church Street, one of the city's main shopping streets, remained closed on Black Friday due to the cordon.

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