Southport stabbing suspect arrives at Liverpool court charged with murder of children
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About 90 people have been arrested after the far-right clashed with police officers in major cities across the UK as authorities warned more disorder is likely in the coming days.
Incidents took place in several cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Hull and Stoke, which saw “violent thugs” clash with police and loot shops in some instances.
In Liverpool, two officers had to be taken to hospital – one with a suspected broken nose and another with a suspected broken jaw – as chairs, bricks, bottles and flares were thrown at them.
Chief Constable BJ Harrington, who speaks on public order for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said authorities are prepared for people to “try and do this again in the coming days”.
Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood told ministers “the whole justice system is ready to deliver convictions as quickly as possible”.
The far-right has drawn condemnation from MPs across the political spectrum after disorder in London, Manchester, Southport and Hartlepool over the past three days.
The riots are thought to have been triggered in part by social media misinformation about the knife attack in Southport, Merseyside, on Monday, which led to the death of three children.
1722745800Home secretary warns protesters involved in ‘violent thuggery’ will ‘pay the price’The Home Secretary has warned that the country will not stand for ‘thuggery’ and that courts will ’stand ready’ to make sure people ‘pay the price’ after protests unsettled cities across the country.
‘Criminal violence and disorder have no place on Britain’s streets,’ Yvette Cooper said on 3 August, amid weekend demonstrations in Liverpool, Sunderland, Hull and others.
Tensions are thought to have been partly triggered by misinformation about the alleged knife attacker in Southport, Merseyside, which resulted in the deaths of three children.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has given police his ‘full support’ to take action against ‘extremists’ as he held emergency talks with ministers.
Hebe Campbell reports:
Home Secretary: ‘We cannot stand for this kind of thuggery’The Home Secretary has warned that the country will not stand for ‘thuggery’ and courts will ’stand ready’ to insure people ‘pay the price’ after protests unsettled cities across the country. ‘Criminal violence and disorder have no place on Britain’s streets,’ Yvette Cooper said on 3 August, amid weekend demonstrations in Liverpool, Sunderland, Hull and others. Tensions are thought to have been partly triggered by misinformation about the alleged knife attacker in Southport, Merseyside, which resulted in the deaths of three children. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has given police his ‘full support’ to take action against ‘extremists’ as he held emergency talks with ministers.
Athena Stavrou4 August 2024 05:30
1722744059In pics: Far-right protesters clash with police in Bristol
Police officers face off with protesters during the ‘Enough is Enough’ demonstration called by far-right activists in Bristol (AFP via Getty Images)
A person throws a chair in Bristol, southern England (AFP via Getty Images)
A fight breaks out between anti-fascists (left) and far-right people protesting in Blackpool (Michael Holmes/PA Wire)Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 August 2024 05:00
1722742300About 90 arrested in Saturday’s far-right clashes – reportAbout 90 people were arrested across the UK after the far-right riots turned violent.
Towns and cities in England and Northern Ireland saw clashes between anti-immigration demonstrators and counter-protesters on Saturday, with police officers attacked and injured and a number of arrests made, with many more promised.
There was violence on Saturday in towns and cities such as Hull, Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham, Bristol, Manchester, Blackpool and Belfast.
Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood told ministers “the whole justice system is ready to deliver convictions as quickly as possible”, a Downing Street spokesperson said.
Humberside Police arrested 20 people, while in Bristol, police made 14 arrests because of violent disorder in the city centre.
Lancashire Police said more than 20 people were arrested and dispersal orders were issued in parts of Blackpool, Preston and Blackburn. And Staffordshire Police said 10 people were also arrested following disorder in Stoke-on-Trent.
Merseyside Police arrested 23 people on Saturday, including 12 arrests for the disorder in the city centre, nine arrests for the disorder on County Road and two arrests in connection with disorder in Southport.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 August 2024 04:31
1722742232Lord Walney says new emergency powers may be needed to deal with riotsHome Office should consider urgently looking at a new emergency framework to deal with the violent outbreaks, Lord Walney said.
He told the Observer that the emergency measures, temporary if required, would “enable police to use the full powers of arrest to prevent people gathering where there is clear intent to fuel violent disorder”.
“The system isn’t set up to deal with this rolling rabble rousing being fuelled by far-right actors,” he said.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 August 2024 04:30
1722742200Man with swastika tattoo at Sunderland riots praised by far right protester for ‘pure British’ body artA man with a swastika tattoo has been pictured in crowds of far-right rioters during a night of disorder in Sunderland linked to the Southportstabbings.
In footage shared to X, the man can be heard declaring: “English, mate, I am” in response to a person filming the video, who compliments him on his “awesome” and “pure British” tattoos.
The Independent’s Race Correspondent Nadine White reports:
Athena Stavrou4 August 2024 04:30
1722738600Watch: Unrest throughout England as far-right protesters destroy shops and carsUnrest throughout England as far-right protesters destroy shops and carsAthena Stavrou4 August 2024 03:30
1722735000Courts to sit for 24-hours a day – reportsCourts will reportedly sit for 24-hours a day in the wake of far-right violence sweeping across the country.
Ministers met with senior members of the judiciary for emergency talks on Saturday as the far-right clashed with police and counter-protesters in major UK cities and towns.
Officials at the Ministry of Justice are now understood to be in discussions with the judiciary, police chiefs and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), about magistrates’ courts sitting for 24 hours to deal with a surge of arrests, The Telegraph reported.
The paper said this would involve triggering the Additional Courts Protocol, which would have to be agreed on by the judiciary. Requests for more court slots and extended hours must be made in agreement with the relevant Chief Officer of Police and Chief Crown Prosecutor.
The protocol was previously used following the 2011 London riots which saw courts sit for 24 hours to process those in custody.
Athena Stavrou4 August 2024 02:30
1722731400Pictured: Far-right clash with police in Bristol
Police detain a man after a protest in Bristol (Rod Minchin/PA Wire)
Police watch a group of people who congregated in a car park in Redcliff Street, Bristol, opposite a hotel that has been used to house asylum seekers, after a protest in Bristol (Rod Minchin/PA Wire)Athena Stavrou4 August 2024 01:30
1722727800Chairs and bottles thrown in Blackpool brawlChairs and bottles were thrown in Blackpool as far-right rioters and counter-protesting punks clashed.
According to reports, police took ten minuted to arrive to clear brawlers from the square in front of Blackpool Church.
Athena Stavrou4 August 2024 00:30
172272557414 arrested in BristolAvon and Somerset Police said 14 people have been arrested following disorder in Bristol.
Neighbourhood Chief Inspector Vicks Hayward-Melen said in a statement: “Some of the scenes we saw in Bristol tonight were completely unacceptable.
“We will always facilitate peaceful and lawful protests, however the behaviour from a minority of people tonight crossed the line.
“Fourteen people have been arrested for various offences and there will be further arrests over the coming days as we work to identify those responsible for this disorder. Make no mistake – they will face the full force of the law for their thuggery.
“I’d like to thank officers, including those who have come from other forces, for their commitment to protecting the public and also our partners for all their support.”
Athena Stavrou3 August 2024 23:52
