Rioters chanting ‘English till I die’ have clashed with police outside a mosque in Southport, near to where three girls were killed in a horrific knife rampage on Monday.
Merseyside Police have condemned the ‘sickening’ violence which has broken out amid speculation over the identity of the suspect arrested in connection with the savage attack on a group of children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
The angry mob – who police ‘believe to be supporters of the English Defence League’ – began to launch items towards a mosque on St Luke’s Road barely an hour after thousands gathered for a vigil to remember the victims of the holiday club outrage.
The crowd of men, many wearing masks and hoodies, surrounded the Southport Mosque amen Islamic Cultural Centre and began hurling rubble at police officers who had formed a protective line around the building.
The thugs were seen targeting the Muslim place of worship at around 7.45pm after police issued a warning over an ‘incorrect’ name for the alleged attacker being widely circulated online.
A 17-year-old boy, originally from Cardiff but from the nearby village of Banks, remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder.
The violence appears to have been fuelled by false claims that the suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat which have spread online.
Merseyside Police said: ‘We would urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing.’
Police said that a number of officers were injured, while cars were set alight and shops were broken into and looted.
In a desperate bid to protect themselves, officers put on helmets and riot gear after stones and bottles were launched at them.One officer has suffered a suspected broken nose and police vehicles have been damaged and set on fire as around 400 people gathered to watch.
Separately, a 32-year-old man was also arrested while carrying a flick knife just yards away from a vigil being held for the three girls stabbed to death.
They were named by police today as six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar.
Riot police hold back protesters near a burning police vehicle after disorder broke out in Southport
A police van was set on fire near a mosque in Southport on Tuesday evening as riots broke out
Smoke is seen billowing from a police van which was set ablaze. The mosque is seen on the right
Tensions have flared in Southport tonight, with police saying members of the EDL were targeting the mosque
Chaotic scenes erupted near to where the knife rampage took place in Southport yesterday
A traffic cone is hurled by a masked man at a police officer near to a mosque in Southport
Around 200 protesters were seen taking to the streets. Police believe many are EDL supporters
Riot police try to control the angry mob who have taken to the streets of Southport
Police try to regain control of the situation. Merseyside Police have condemned the ‘sickening’ violence
Wheelie bins and bricks were thrown at police, while a police van went up in flames – as police warned people not to speculate about the identity of the suspect
They were among 11 children stabbed during a ‘ferocious’ knife attack which left mothers picking up their children screaming in horror.
Five further children, aged between six and 11, are in a critical condition alongside two female adults, among them hero yoga teacher Leanne Lucas, who ‘bravely tried to protect them’.
As thousands of mourners attended an emotional vigil in Southport on Tuesday evening, protests broke out on the streets surrounding Hart Street, where the attack took place.
Furious demonstrators tore down garden walls to use as missiles to pelt at police, with wheelie bins also thrown during the mayhem.
A police van was set on fire by protesters. Angry mobs chanted ‘Stop the boats’ and kicked out at police vans sent to restore order.
Some threw smoke bombs, with men wearing caps and shorts charging at outnumbered police.
Scores of riot vans and patrol cars raced to the scene as a police helicopter hovered overhead as the violence spread out of control.
Huge crowds of men, many masked and wearing hoodies, were seen clashing with police – as stones, bottles, bricks and fireworks were launched.
Demonstrators could be heard shouting ‘No surrender’ and ‘English till I die’.
One police officer was seen being helped into a van by his colleagues with blood streaming down his face and a heavily bandaged head.
A female officer was also seen with a cut cheek.
By 8pm, around 500 rioters had massed in two streets outside the mosque – Sussex Road and St Luke’s Road – trapping around 40 police officers in the middle.
Missiles were hurled at riot officers and dog handlers from both sides.
Bottles, bricks, fireworks and lumps of concrete were thrown to cheers from the rioters, who goaded police and eyes each other on.
At about 8.15pm a crowd surrounded three riot vans and began rocking one to try and flip it over.
Moments later a small explosion was heard and a mini- fireball erupted in the air as the van went up in flames.
One man shouted: ‘We’re doing this for our girls!’ as officers drove the other vans away from the fire to stop them also being set alight.
In a desperate attempt to quell the disorder, a charge from riot police brandishing batons sent around 300 of the rioters fleeing down the street as reinforcements flooded the area.
Several people carried placards with slogans about stopping the boats. One read: ‘Stop the boats! Send them back! Fight for our kids! Let’s stand together!
A burnt out police van near a mosque in Southport as shocking riots broke out on Tuesday
The aftermath of the riots, where police vans were burnt and rocks were launched
A protester walks away holding his head as activists clashed with police on Tuesday
Clashes between protesters and police can be seen breaking out in the far distance
Some held placards saying ‘stop the boats’. This is despite police issuing a warning after an ‘incorrect’ name for the alleged attacker was widely circulated online
Huge crowds have clashed with police in Southport as tensions boil over following the knife rampage
Activists were seen launching missiles at police and attempting to damage riot vans
One woman carrying a placard said the disorder was because the knife man who attacked the children ‘was a Muslim.’
She said: ‘We are saying enough is enough. Why are they not stopping the migrants coming in?
‘How many more children will be killed because they are letting them all in? They should be at the borders stopping them.’
Her comments came after inaccurate posts by social media sleuths about the identity of the perpetrator have received millions of views and engagements.
Sunder Katwala, director of the think-tank British Future, said a bogus news channel seemed to have invented a fake name for the suspect and run a false story that was shared online.
Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss: ‘There has been much speculation and hypothesis around the status of a 17-year-old male who is currently in police custody, and some individuals are using this to bring violence and disorder to our streets.
‘We have already said that the person arrested was born in the UK and speculation helps nobody at this time.
‘It is sickening to see this happening within a community that has been devastated by the tragic loss of three young lives.’
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy posted on X: ‘I am incredibly proud of my officers and staff who have worked so hard to save the lives of children, investigate the horrific incident from yesterday, working with partners to provide reassurance to our communities and now they are facing this level of violence from these thugs
‘Over 1000 residents from Southport came together this evening to remember the little girls who have died, those who are still critical in hospital and all those who witnessed & are traumatised by the events from yesterday. This is where all of our focus should be.’
Southport MP Patrick Hurley said: ‘It’s distressing to see people from outside our Southport community attacking our police and local people.
‘I want to make it clear that I fully condemn any attack on our emergency services, these are the same services that responded to the tragic attack yesterday.
‘I appeal to local people to avoid the area and stay safe, to allow the police to do their job.’
Mr Hurley continued: ‘I want to thank our community for pulling together and supporting every person who has been affected by Monday’s tragic attack.
‘Nowhere was this more evident than the solidarity, remembrance and sympathy heard at today’s vigil.
‘To those who laid flowers, candles, toys, thank you. I was deeply saddened to hear the news today of the death or a third child. Bebe, Elsie and Alice are in all of our thoughts and hearts today.’
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said it was ‘appalling’ police officers in Southport were facing attacks from ‘thugs on the streets who have no respect for a grieving community’, adding: ‘It’s a total disgrace’.
And the Southport Mosque said it was ‘truly shocked and saddened to hear about the events that unfolded today’. They added: ‘We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of all affected. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.’
Downing Street also warned against ‘unhelpful’ speculation amid concerns that misreporting online could inflame community tensions.
An aerial view of Hart Street on Monday, where a horrifying knife attack took place just before midday
The three girls stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class were today named by police as nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and six-year-old Bebe King (L-R)
Officers should be given the space to probe the case without people guessing at the possible motive or circumstances, No 10 said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Prime Minister was repeatedly asked ‘how many more children will die?’ as he placed flowers at the scene of the attack.
Sir Keir Starmer’s brief visit, which lasted around two minutes, was interrupted by some members of the public heckling him.
As the Prime Minister walked past, one man declared: ‘Here’s your photo opportunity.’
Another shouted: ‘How many more children? Our kids are dead and you’re leaving already?’
Other furious onlookers shouted ‘scumbag’, ‘time for change’ and ‘go away, you’re not wanted’.
Another woman said: ‘I’ve just found out my friend’s nine-year-old daughter was killed, the person I’ve held as a child, and you can’t do s***.’
And a different man shouted: ‘Get the truth out!’
Ms Cooper has said social media companies ‘need to take some responsibility’ for some activity in the aftermath of the attack.
Responding to shadow home secretary James Cleverly, she said: ‘I agree with him too about the responsibility on every one of us. The police do need to be able to pursue this investigation.
‘There will be wider questions for other days, but the most important thing is that every one of us supports the police in their investigation now.
‘I agree with him too about the responsibility on social media companies, because we do need to recognise there are things that are taking place on social media that go against their terms and conditions, and their commitments as well. They need to take some responsibility for that.
‘Above all, this is about young children. This is about children and their families who will be grieving, and the many other children who were involved yesterday who will be facing great trauma as well.’
Her counterpart Mr Cleverly called for people not to ‘get involved in the grief of others’ by sharing misinformation relating to the Southport attack on social media.
‘Enough people are already distressed without their distress being amplified by speculation and gossip online,’ he added.
Ahead of fears mounting over a far-right rally, Sir Keir’s official spokesman said: ‘Of course, people should listen the police, they should not do anything that is going to make the police’s job harder to manage the situation, to conduct their investigations.
‘It is unhelpful to speculate on things like the motive and the circumstance around this.’
Police have said that, although the motive for the attack is unclear, it is not believed to be terror-related.
