UK police prepare for more rallies after another night of violent riot linked to Southport deadly attack

Police in the UK are on high alert with more far-right rallies expected after a wave of violent riots have swept the country following the deaths three children at a Taylor Swift-dance club.

British police are on high alert and preparing for up to 15 far-right rallies to take place across the country this weekend, following a spate of violent riots linked to a mass stabbing earlier this week that killed three young girls.

It comes after police officers faced “serious and sustained levels of violence” during riots in Sunderland, in the country’s northwest, on Friday night.

There was a huge police presence at Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester, on Saturday as both anti-racism and far-right protesters hit the streets.

Police form a divide between people taking part in an anti-racism counter protest, (behind) and far-right activists (foreground) protesting at Piccadilly Gardens on August 3. Picture: Getty Images

Far-right activists take part in a protest at Piccadilly Gardens on August 3. Picture: Getty Images

Police form a divide between people taking part in an anti-racism counter protest and far-right activists protesting at Piccadilly Gardens on August 3. Picture: Getty Images

People take part in an anti-racism counter protest at Piccadilly Gardens on August 3. Picture: Getty Images

Eight people were arrested and three officers required hospital treatment following hours of “utterly deplorable” disturbances on Fright night, Northumbria Police Chief Superintendent Helena Barron said.

Two officers remained in hospital early on Saturday, she added.

A police car is set on fire as far-right activists hold an ‘Enough is Enough’ protest in Sunderland on August 02. Picture: Getty Images

Mounted police deal with demonstrators as far-right activists during an Enough is Enough protest in Sunderland on August 02. Picture: Getty Images

Footage broadcast by the BBC showed a mob of several hundred rampaging in Sunderland’s city centre, attacking police and setting fire to at least one car and a building next to a police office.

Other images shared on social media showed balaclava-clad youths throwing bricks and other missiles as fireworks and flares were let off.

Demonstrators clash with police officers in Sunderland on August 02. Picture: Getty Images

“The shocking scenes we have witnessed in Sunderland this evening are completely unacceptable,” Supt. Barron said, adding the “disorder, violence and damage” seen “will not be tolerated”.

“A full investigation is now under way to identify anyone else responsible” in addition to the eight people arrested, she added.

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UK POLICE PLAN FOR MORE FAR-RIGHT RALLIES

The disorder came as police nationwide prepared for planned far-right rallies and other demonstrations this weekend, after two nights of unrest in several English towns and cities in the wake of Monday’s knife attack.

London’s Metropolitan Police said it had a “proportionate and risk-based” plan for rival pro-Palestinian and anti-immigration protests Saturday. Its officers arrested 111 people as a rally in Westminster turned violent late Wednesday.

Violent riots have erupted following the mass stabbing in Southport on Monday. This is a scene from Southport earlier this week. Picture: Getty Images

But Friday night’s disturbances in Sunderland, after a calm night nationwide Thursday, were an ominous sign for the coming days.

UK interior minister Yvette Cooper vowed rioters will “pay the price for their violence and thuggery”.

She gave police “the full backing of government to take the strongest possible action and ensure they face the full force of the law”.

“They do not represent Britain,” Ms Cooper said.

Riot police hold back protesters near a burning police vehicle after disorder broke out on July 30 in Southport, England. Picture: Getty Images)

Earlier, Merseyside Police said extra officers had been deployed in and around Liverpool city centre “to help prevent disorder or criminality” there. Despite a minor skirmish near a mosque, the evening passed off peacefully.

Liverpool lies close to the seaside town of Southport where Monday’s knife attack occurred.

BRITISH MUSLIMS ‘ANXIOUS’ ABOUT FAR-RIGHT PROTESTS

British Muslims have voiced fear about far-right protests that have targeted UK mosques in recent days, as community leaders bolstered security at Islamic centres before more demonstrations planned for Saturday.

Agitators have targeted Islamic places of worship since unsubstantiated rumours spread online that the teenage suspect behind a knife attack that killed three girls in northwest England on Monday was Muslim.

Demonstrators threw bricks at a mosque on Tuesday night in Southport, the city where 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana is accused of carrying out the mass stabbing, in riots police blamed on the far-right English Defence League.

Then on Friday evening, protesters shouted Islamophobic chants, and threw beer cans and bricks at police outside a mosque in the northeastern English city of Sunderland.

“The Muslim community is deeply anxious right now, really distressed about what they’ve seen,” Zara Mohammed, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), said.

DISINFORMATION HELPED FUEL UNREST

Far-right elements have been blamed for the disturbances in the aftermath of the stabbing spree targeting children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party.

Officials have said online disinformation about the British-born 17-year-old suspect Axel Rudakubana helped fuel the unrest.

He faces murder and attempted murder charges over the stabbing rampage that also left five children and two adults critically wounded.

Police have said the case is not being treated as terror-related but have not revealed a motive.

Anger over the tragedy has fused with growing anti-immigration sentiment on the right of English politics, pushed by openly Islamophobic far-right figures.

After violence in Southport late Tuesday, unrest rocked the northern cities of Hartlepool and Manchester as well as London 24 hours later.

UK PM REACTS TO RIOTS

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has accused “thugs” of “hijacking” the nation’s grief to “sow hatred” and pledged that anyone carrying out violent acts will “face the full force of the law”.

In power for less than a month, Starmer met Friday with local leaders in Southport to discuss “a package of support for the local community”, his Downing Street office said.

Starmer’s visit came the day after he announced a new “national capability” to tackle disorder in the wake of the recent disturbances.

Britain's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Picture: Getty Images

The new measures will allow the sharing of intelligence, wider deployment of facial-recognition technology and criminal behaviour orders to restrict troublemakers from travelling.

The police alert for the weekend comes after far-right social media channels advertised “enough is enough” anti-immigrant rallies, and anti-fascism groups vowed to stage counter-protests.

“Enough is enough” has emerged as a rallying online slogan for the far-right and others following Monday’s attack.

South Yorkshire police said Friday they knew of a planned protest in the town of Rotherham, while officers in south Wales said they were preparing for events being planned for Saturday in Cardiff.

Police in Northern Ireland noted social media posts calling for roadblocks “using women and children”, as well as a march to an Islamic centre in Belfast on Saturday.

Originally published as UK police prepare for more rallies after another night of violent riot linked to Southport deadly attack