Protesters clash with police in major UK cities over Southport stabbings
There is unrest across the UK tonight as police continue to face violence on the streets.
Ugly clashes follow awful scenes in Sunderland last night (Friday, August 3) when rioters set a police office on fire and caused total chaos.
And the mayhem continued on another day of violence in England after the Southport knife attack which left three children dead and the entire nation reeling in horror.
False claims were circulating online suggesting the perpetrator was a Syrian migrant who arrived in the UK by dinghy. In fact, the teenage suspect, 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, was born in Cardiff.
Here Express.co.uk rounds up what has occurred today and earlier this week in England’s towns and cities.
Carnage has broken out across Britain’s streets (Image: Getty)
READ MORE: Riot thugs will be jailed vows Yvette Cooper as chaos sweeps Britain
Mayhem on the streets of Bristol (Image: Getty)
Saturday, August 3
Liverpool
Some of the worst of the violence has been in Liverpool where masked yobs hurled bricks at riot police. Two police officers have been taken to hospital – one with a suspected broken nose and another with a suspected broken jaw as a result of the anarchy.
Six people were arrested aged between 29 and 58 on suspicion of offences including violent disorder and criminal damage and that number will increase.
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims, who led today’s policing operation, said: “The behaviour we have seen today in Liverpool city centre is completely unacceptable.”
Stoke
Four men have been arrested in Stoke-on-Trent after disorder in the Staffordshire city. Hundreds of protesters marched the streets of Hanley with riot police out in force.
Demonstrators were seen draped in football flags and covering their faces as they chanted and faced up to police officers. Police denied that there had been a stabbing, countering claims made on social media.
In a statement, the force said: “We can confirm a man was injured after being hit by a blunt object that was thrown. His injuries are not thought to be serious and he has been taken to hospital for treatment. Four men have been arrested in connection with the disorder and are currently in custody for questioning.”
Bristol
Multiple arrests have been made because of violent disorder in Bristol city centre. Avon and Somerset Police said the behaviour was “completely unacceptable” and a large police presence in the centre remains.
Protesters gathered at Castle Park following a campaign on social media with the tags “enough is enough” and “stop the boats”.
Rioters caused mayhem in Sunderland (Image: Getty)
Blackpool
Police arrested 20 people in Lancashire with the biggest disorder seen in Blackpool. There were also disturbances in Preston and Blackburn.
A protest in Blackpool saw skirmishes break out between demonstrators and punks, with bottles and chairs being thrown and wood wielded.
In one clash, a man was knocked unconscious when he fell backwards and hit his head on the ground. Another man drove his motorbike at the crowd before police officers arrived.
Assistant Chief Constable Phil Davies said: “In Blackpool, we have witnessed some mindless thuggery from individuals, who we believe to be from outside of the county, intent on causing issues in our communities.”
Nottingham
At least three people were led away in handcuffs as demonstrators faced counter-protesters in Nottingham.
Counter-protesters holding placards saying “violence not welcome” and “Nottingham against hate” chanted “free Palestine” and “Nazi scum off our streets” as protesters with flags played the national anthem on a loudspeaker.
Police separated the two groups in King Street as projectiles including cans, bottles, eggs and fruit were thrown, with some hitting officers.
Hull
Rioters looted a shoe shop in Hull which was then set on fire. Throughout the day rioters clashed with police and started fires on the streets.
There was also carnage that broke out in Liverpool (Image: Getty)
Manchester
Protesters gathered in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens. Demonstrators clashed with police as they called for an end to mass migration.
A group, some of whom were wearing masks and chanting Tommy Robinson’s name, also caused chaos in a Sainsbury’s supermarket, leaving the store in a mess.
Images shared online showed packaged goods scattered all over the floor.
Leeds
Leeds descended into chaos after two groups of protesters began hurling insults at each other this afternoon.
Around 150 people carrying St George’s flags shouted “you’re not English any more” and “p**** Muslims off our streets” outside the city’s central library and art gallery. But they were greatly outnumbered by hundreds of counter protesters shouting “Nazi scum off our streets”.
Many of this group were waving Palestinian flags in the sunshine and chanting “there are many, many more of us than you”.
The two groups were kept about 20 metres apart by barriers with around 20 police officers between them.
Friday, August 2
Sunderland
Violence flared in Wearside last night with four police officers injured in violent clashes and 10 rioters have so far been arrested.
Elsewhere in the town a disused police station and a Citizens Advice facility were set on fire.
Wednesday, July 31
Hartlepool
Hartlepool was rocked by violent confrontations between the police and protesters, culminating in officers being pelted with missiles and several police vehicles being torched amidst the turmoil.
Eight individuals were detained for public order offences.
The police, addressing the community’s alarm, assured through a spokesperson: “We understand that these events will have been hugely concerning to our communities and we want to reassure people that the actions of those involved will be dealt with to bring those responsible to justice.”
London
Protesters clashed with police in London with crowds heard chanting “save our kids”.
Flares were thrown towards the gates of Downing Street during the demonstration as well as at the statue of Winston Churchill.
A few hundred protesters chanted “Rule Britannia”, “save our kids” and “stop the boats” and attempted to leave the pavement opposite Downing Street in defiance of strict Metropolitan Police conditions on the protest.
Far right activists also took to the streets of Manchester (Image: Getty)
Aldershot
Seven people are being sought by police after objects were hurled outside a hotel housing migrants during a protest in Aldershot.
A minority of the 200 who protested outside the Potters International Hotel became involved in the disruption on Wednesday evening, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said.
The force has released images of seven people it would like to identify.
Tuesday, July 30
Southport
A shocking rampage in Southport left 39 police officers injured after alleged members of the English Defence League attacked a mosque.
The violent incident on Tuesday evening saw vehicles set ablaze, multiple police officers injured and the local area devastated.
The aftermath of the riot has left bricks scattered across the area, torn from garden walls along with smouldering remains of the protesters’ arson attacks, which destroyed a police van and several residents’ cars.
