More than 90 arrests made after far-right demonstrations turn violent
More than 90 people were arrested after far-right demonstrations turned into riots across several towns and cities in the UK on Saturday.
In areas including Hull, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, Blackpool, and Belfast, bottles were thrown, shops looted, and police officers attacked, though not all demonstrations became violent.
The prime minister has pledged the government’s “full support” to police forces in taking action against “extremists” trying to “sow hate.”
Tensions have been high following the killing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party in Southport, Merseyside, on Monday.
In Liverpool, bricks, bottles, and a flare were thrown at police, one officer was hit in the head by a thrown chair, and another was kicked and knocked off his motorbike.
A few hundred anti-fascist demonstrators gathered across from Liverpool’s Lime Street station at lunchtime, calling for unity and tolerance, and chanting “Refugees are welcome here” and “Nazi scum, off our streets.”
They marched to the city’s riverside to confront around one thousand anti-immigration protestors, some of whom were shouting Islamophobic slurs.
Police in riot gear, accompanied by dogs, struggled to keep the two sides apart, and reinforcements were called in to try and maintain order.
The unrest continued into the early hours of Sunday morning, with fireworks launched at police officers wearing riot gear.
Merseyside Police confirmed many officers had been injured in what they described as a “serious disorder”, adding that two had been taken to the hospital – one with a suspected broken nose and one with a suspected broken jaw.
The force said 23 people had been arrested.
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Simms said: “The disorder, violence, and destruction has no place here in Merseyside, least of all after the tragic events that took place in Southport on Monday”.
“Those who engaged in this behavior bring nothing but shame to themselves and this city. “
At a meeting of government ministers earlier on Saturday, a spokesperson for Sir Keir Starmer said the PM told those assembled that “the right to freedom of expression and the violent disorder we have seen are two very different things.”
He added: “There is no excuse for violence of any kind and reiterated that the government backs the police to take all necessary action to keep our streets safe”.
On Saturday, the home secretary also warned that anyone engaging in “unacceptable disorder” would face imprisonment and travel bans amongst other punishments, adding that “sufficient” prison places had been made available.
“Criminal violence and disorder have no place on Britain’s streets,” Yvette Cooper said.
Police have the government’s full backing in taking action against those engaging in “thuggery”, she added.
In Bristol, protesters and counter-protests were engaged in a standoff.
One group could be heard singing Rule Britannia, “England ’til I die” and “We want our country back”, while the other side chanted “Refugees are welcome here”.
Beer cans were been thrown at the anti-racism group, and some of the rival protesters were baton-charged by officers.
Avon and Somerset Police said 14 people in the city had been arrested, with Chief Inspector Vicks Hayward-Melen anticipating there would be “further arrests over the coming days”.
In Manchester, there were scuffles with police, and at least two arrests.
While in Belfast, two people were arrested as protesters outside a mosque threw objects at members of the media and earlier smashed windows in a cafe.
In Hull, protesters smashed a window at a hotel used to house asylum seekers, and bottles and eggs were thrown at police.
City Hall was placed on lockdown as the British Chess Championships took place inside.
Humberside Police said three police officers had been injured and 20 people arrested after the disorder in the city center also saw shops ransacked and items set on fire.
In Blackpool, protesters faced off against punks attending the Rebellion Festival. There was little police presence as skirmishes broke out between the two groups, with bottles and chairs thrown.
Lancashire Police said it had arrested more than 20 people. The force said its focus had been on Blackpool but there had also been “minor disruption” in Blackburn and Preston.
In Stoke-on-Trent, bricks were thrown at officers. Staffordshire Police said that two men at the center of online claims they had been stabbed had been hit by an object that was thrown, and were not seriously injured.
The force said 10 people had been arrested and three officers suffered minor injuries.
Elsewhere Leicestershire Police arrested two people in Leicester city centre, while West Yorkshire Police made one arrest on the Headrow in Leeds.
Not all demonstrations held across the UK descended into violence on Saturday, and in some places protesters dispersed by the evening.
Saturday’s protests follow a night of violence in Sunderland on Friday, which saw four police officers hospitalized and 10 people arrested.
Hundreds of people rioted, beer cans and bricks were thrown at riot police outside a mosque and a Citizens Advice office was torched.
Twelve people have been arrested in connection with the violence.
The BBC has identified at least 30 demonstrations being planned by far-right activists around the UK over the weekend, including a new protest in Southport.
An extra 70 prosecutors are on standby this weekend to charge people arrested in connection with violent disorder.
Shadow home secretary James Cleverly called on Sir Keir and the home secretary to “do more” to restore public order and “send a clear message to the thugs”.
Earlier this week, the prime minister announced a new national violent disorder program to help clamp down on violent groups by allowing police forces to share intelligence.
