Police officers in Southport were met with violence from far-right protesters, who threw bricks and glass bottles at them and set a police vehicle on fire outside a mosque following a knife attack that claimed the lives of three children. Merseyside Police reported that an officer suffered a suspected broken nose and police vehicles were damaged and set alight during the disturbances. The force stated that a large group of people, believed to be supporters of the English Defence League, began throwing items at a local mosque, prompting officers to respond to the criminal behavior and violence. In the aftermath of the attack, false accusations spread on social media, prompting condemnation from the home secretary. Riot police were forced to charge the crowds after a police van was set on fire, and tear gas was deployed to push back the angry protesters. Some officers were injured as they faced missiles being hurled at them, while demonstrators shouted Islamophobic slogans and expressed nationalist sentiments.
Far-right attack police outside Southport mosque after knife killings | UK news
Police officers had bricks and glass bottles thrown at them by far-right protesters and a police vehicle was set on fire outside a mosque in Southport following a knife attack that killed three children.
Merseyside Police said an officer suffered a suspected broken nose and police vehicles have been damaged and set alight in the disturbances.
“At around 7.45pm, a large group of people – believed to be supporters of the English Defence League – began to throw items towards a local mosque on St Luke’s Road in Southport,” the force said.
“Officers who are deployed are currently dealing with criminal behaviour and violence with bottles and wheelie bins being thrown at them.”
“Additional patrols are now in attendance, including the dog section” the force said.
In the aftermath of the attack, for which a 17-year-old has been arrested, several false accusations were spread on social media with incorrect names of the attacker.
The online misinformation was earlier condemned by the home secretary Yvette Cooper. The only details released about the suspect by police are that he is a 17-year-old from the village of Banks in Lancashire, who was born in Cardiff.
Assistant chief constable Alex Goss, said: “It is sickening to see this happening within a community that has been devastated by the tragic loss of three young lives …
“Yesterday, our officers and other members of the emergency services were faced with one of the most difficult situations they will ever face. Tonight, they find themselves being attacked as they endeavour to prevent disorder.”
He added: “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.”
Riot police charged the crowds of hundreds after a police van was set alight and other police vehicles were damaged on Tuesday evening. Officers also deployed tear gas to try to fight back the angry crowds of predominantly men covering their faces.
Some officers appeared to be injured after plant pots and empty bins were among the missiles hurled at them and the Southport Mosque building while a group of people attempted to overturn a riot van.
As police tried to push the crowds back, some attacked yellow Matrix police vans by pulling at wing mirrors and jumping onto the roof.
Hundreds of youths and men gathered on the streets surrounding Hart Street, where Monday’s knife attack took place. Demonstrators were heard shouting Islamophobic slogans as well as “no surrender”, “English till I die” and “we want our country back” as a police helicopter circled overhead.
Read the full story on www.theguardian.com
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jul/30/far-right-attack-police-outside-southport-mosque-after-knife-killings