A wave of violent protests swept across the UK, leaving several police officers injured during clashes between anti-immigration and anti-Muslim protesters in the aftermath of misinformation over a fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport last month. Protesters threw bricks, bottles and flares at police officers as clashes intensified throughout the day.
The riots erupted in towns and cities after false information spread rapidly on social media that a 17-year-old suspect in the stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga event on July 29 was a radical Muslim migrant.
According to the police, the suspect, Axel Rudakubana, was born in the UK to Rwandan parents and is a Christian. However, several people protested, which descended into arson, violence and looting, Reuters reported.
Violent clashes erupted in Liverpool, Bristol, Hull and Belfast, where hundreds of rival protesters, largely young men, clashed with each other and police. Anti-Muslim protesters chanted slogans including, "You're not English any more" and "Paedo Muslims off our street", while the counter-protesters responded with, "Nazi scum off our streets".
Several police officers suffered injuries as protesters threw bricks, bottles and flares at them while trying to prevent them from clashing with each other. Protesters attacked vehicles and buses, setting some cars on fire during the protests.
In Liverpool, two officers were hospitalised with suspected facial fractures while another was pushed from his motorbike and assaulted in the protests involving about 750 protesters and a similar number of rival demonstrators, according to Merseyside Police, the force overseeing the city.
Police added that two shops in Liverpool were vandalised and looted.
Similar scenes were witnessed in other cities, including Bristol, where anti-racist protesters outnumbered anti-immigration groups, and faced off against each other with police in riot gear controlling the situation.
In Bristol, 14 people were arrested by Avon and Somerset Police, with Neighbourhood Chief Inspector Vicks Hayward-Melen saying they would face the law "for their thuggery".
In Belfast, some businesses reported damage to property while at least one was set on fire, police said.
In Leeds, protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted to their rival protesters, saying, "there are many, many more of us than you."
In Hull, three police officers were injured after protesters targeted a hotel that houses migrants. Four were arrested as officers "faced eggs and bottles being thrown" as windows of the hotel were shattered, Humberside Police Chief Superintendent Darren Wildbore told Sky News.
Staffordshire Police arrested ten people on charges of assault, violent disorder and threatening behaviour after bricks were thrown at officers in Stoke-on-Trent.
"Some of the scenes we saw in Bristol tonight were completely unacceptable. We will always facilitate peaceful and lawful protests, however, the behaviour from a minority of people tonight crossed the line," Hayward-Melen said.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the police they had his ministers' full backing to take "all necessary action to keep our streets safe" from "thugs" who "sow hate", Sky News reported.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper gave a stern warning to protesters that they "would pay the price" and that "criminal violence and disorder had no place on Britain's streets".
"We've been clear to the police that they have our full backing in taking the strongest possible action against perpetrators, including making sure that there are more prosecutors, there are sufficient prison places and also that the courts stand ready because anyone who engages in this kind of disorder needs to be clear that they will pay the price," she said.
On July 29, Bebe King (6), Elsie Dot Stancombe (7) and Alice Dasilva Aguiar (9) were stabbed to death in Merseyside town. Rudakubana, the suspect, has been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder.
Source: ANI