The incident on Monday is subject to a police investigation, and the last thing the authorities need is uninformed speculation or harmful content shared online. Actions like these will only serve as impediments to police work and, later, the judicial process. Instead, the people of Liverpool and beyond should come together to support one another at this challenging time.
It's encouraging to see the police release details about this atrocity so quickly. In the past, the force has been unacceptably slow in responding to questions and speculation, which notably led to the rioting that followed the Southport killings. Ultimately, the public has the right to know as much as possible as soon as possible, and the police’s rapid release of information about the suspect this time sets a precedent they must strictly adhere to.