Business Secretary pledges support on visit to Liverpool riot-hit library

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were stabbed to death at a holiday club in Southport on 29 July.

Widespread unrest followed after misinformation was shared online about the suspect.

Mr Reynolds said the government would be “working with the insurance industry where people have been affected and need to get their claims processed as soon as possible and get that redress that they need”.

“Local businesses are at the heart of the community,” he said.

“I want them to know the government are behind them.”

Spellow Library manager Deborah Moore described the situation on Saturday night as “dire” and said seeing the destruction at the hub was heartbreaking.

“To see videos online of the place burning, we were so shocked and so hurt,” she said.

“There is so much engagement here, why would you do this mindless act? And to burn books? Why? I just hope that’s the end of it.”

Following the attack, celebrities, authors and members of the public rallied around to support the library.

Ms Moore said she was optimistic that the goodwill of the community along with significant funds raised by donations would see the service reopen soon.