More than 90 arrested after officers injured in violent protests across UK - as PM聽backs police to 'keep streets safe'
The prime minister said he backs the police to take "all necessary action to keep our streets safe," while Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said those engaging in violent disorder "will pay the price."
Sunday 4 August 2024 09:06, UK
More than 90 people have been arrested after protests turned violent in towns and cities across the UK on Saturday.
Police officers were attacked and injured, while there were also clashes between anti-immigration demonstrators and counter-protesters.
Bristol, Leeds, Sunderland, and Blackpool, were among the areas which saw protests on Saturday, with demonstrations also held in Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, and Hull.
Some of the worst violence was seen in Liverpool, where two police officers were taken to hospital with a suspected broken jaw and a suspected broken nose.
In Nottingham, scuffles broke out as opposing groups faced each other in Nottingham's Market Square with bottles and other items thrown from both sides, and chants of "England till I die" were drowned out by boos from counter-protesters.
Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, fireworks were thrown amid tense exchanges between an anti-Islamic group and an anti-racism rally in Belfast.
Police have warned further violence is likely in the coming days.
"We know people will try and do this again and policing has been and will continue to be ready," said Chief Constable BJ Harrington, who speaks on public order for the National Police Chiefs' Council.
'Thugs who sow hate'
Sir Keir Starmer has told the police they have ministers' full backing to take "all necessary action to keep our streets safe" from "thugs" who "sow hate".
The protests erupted following the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport - which was followed by a wave of online misinformation about the suspect spread by far-right activists and aggitators.
A Downing Street spokesperson said the prime minister had met senior ministers including the deputy prime minister, home secretary, justice secretary and the policing minister to discuss the public disorder and unrest.
After thanking police who responded to the violence in Sunderland on Friday night, which saw four officers injured, Sir Keir said officers "have our full support to take action against extremists on our streets who are attacking police officers, disrupting local businesses and attempting to sow hate by intimidating communities.
"The right to freedom of expression and the violent disorder we have seen are two very different things," he said, adding that "there is no excuse for violence of any kind".
Sir Keir reiterated that the government backed the police to take "all necessary action to keep our streets safe".
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said those engaging in violent disorder "will pay the price", telling broadcasters "criminal violence and disorder has no place on Britain's streets".
Ms Cooper said: "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 promised to work with forces to help ensure "consequences, arrests and prosecutions" for those responsible.
Asked whether she had considered recalling parliament, as Dame Priti Patel has urged, she said she had been "talking to MPs across the country" and would continue to do so.
Sky's political correspondent Rob Powell said Number 10 wants anyone taking part in disorder to understand they will face "swift action" and "the full force of the law".
Liverpool - police treated for suspected broken bones
Two police officers have been taken to hospital in Liverpool with a suspected broken jaw and a suspected broken nose as officers in the city were met with "shameful levels of violence", Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said.
A number of people set off fire extinguishers and threw "various items including bricks and bottles at officers", Merseyside Police said.
"An officer on a police motorbike was pushed from his bike and assaulted," ACC Sims said.
There have been reports of "families having to run away from the area", she added.
Bricks, bottles and a flare were also thrown at officers as they lined The Strand in the city centre.
Another officer was kicked and knocked off his motorcycle by a demonstrator and others tried to kick riot shields.
A policewoman was hit by a chair and was led off by other officers, Sky's North of England correspondent Charlotte Leeming said.
At least 23 people have been arrested. That number is likely to rise - with police saying around 300 people were involved in some of the worst violence, on County Road, in the Walton area of the city.
Merseyside Police said: "The group gathered at around 8pm and from the start were intent on committing serious violence and disorder, which resulted in community facilities being set on fire."
Merseyside Police also said a 58-year-old man has been charged with two offences following the violent disorder in Southport on Tuesday. Derek Drummond of Pool Street, Southport, has been charged with violent disorder and assault on an emergency worker. He will appear at Wirral Magistrates Court on Monday.
Bristol - fighting at close quarters
Police have made 14 arrests in Bristol following "violent disorder".
Approximately 100 protesters were outnumbered around four to one by counter-protesters who chanted anti-fascist slogans, Sky correspondent Tom Cheshire said, as "huge numbers" of police struggled to keep them apart.
Eyewitness:
Inside 'running battle' in Bristol
The rival factions moved out of Castle Park, where they had gathered, "spilling out on to the streets of Bristol", at around 7.30pm.
Cheshire said: "We saw multiple charges [of] police horses, we saw fights at close quarters between right-wing protesters and counter-protesters."
The two sides were as little as 10ft apart at times, and missiles were thrown and police detained people, he added.
Nottingham
At least three people were arrested in Nottingham as scuffles broke between opposing groups who faced each other in the city's Market Square.
Bottles and other items were thrown from both sides and chants of "England till I die" and "Tommy Robinson" were drowned out by boos from counter-protesters.
Nottinghamshire Police promised a "robust response".
Leeds
In Leeds, around 150 people carrying St George flags shouting "You're not English any more" and "Paedo Muslims off our street" were greatly outnumbered by hundreds of counter-protesters shouting "Nazi scum off our streets".
Many of this group were waving Palestinian flags 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.
Blackpool
In Blackpool, punks, who had travelled there for the annual Rebellion festival, squared off against men in football shirts, separated only by police.
Bottles and chairs were thrown as crowds chanted "England till I die" and "we want our country back", plus "oh, Tommy Robinson" and "protect our kids".
Counter-protesters shouted "Nazi scum off our streets" as bottles were thrown and minor skirmishes broke out.
Police in Lancashire later said they had made more than 20 arrests.
Hull
In Hull, four people have been arrested as three officers were hurt during a protest in which a group of people targeted a hotel which houses asylum seekers.
Humberside Police Chief Superintendent Darren Wildbore said officers have "faced eggs and bottles being thrown" as windows were smashed at the hotel which has housed migrants.
Stoke-on-Trent
Ten people - all male and aged between 15 and 52 - have been arrested by Staffordshire Police over offences including assault, violent disorder and racial or religious threatening behaviour after bricks were thrown at officers in Stoke-on-Trent.
Two men who featured in online claims of a stabbing were actually hurt when a blunt instrument was thrown in the air, the force said.
They are in hospital and their injuries are not serious while three police officers suffered minor injuries.
Sunderland
Northumbria Police said "doors have been put in" and further arrests made after "violent disorder in Sunderland" on Friday.
Two people were arrested on Saturday in connection with Friday's disorder - a woman aged 43 on suspicion of violent disorder, and a man aged 55 on suspicion of provoking violence.
Manchester
In Manchester, the campaign group Stand up to Racism said hundreds demonstrated in the city to oppose far-right activists while a Sainsbury's store was looted.
Belfast
Fireworks were thrown amid tense exchanges between an anti-Islamic group and an anti-racism rally in Belfast.
Two people were arrested in Belfast as protesters outside a mosque threw objects at the media.
Video footage also showed a man trying and failing to smash his way through glass doors at the front of a hotel.
Week of clashes after Southport killings
Saturday's disorder followed violent protests earlier this week, which saw more than 100 people arrested outside Downing Street on Wednesday and 10 arrests in Sunderland on Friday night after a building next to a police station was set on fire and objects thrown at officers.
The widespread disorder follows a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at a community centre in Southport on Monday, which left three girls dead.
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Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, were killed in the attack and other children and adults were injured.
The assault was followed by a wave of online misinformation about the background of the suspect, Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, from Lancashire.
False claims included that the 17-year-old, who was born in Cardiff, was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat.