Violence erupted on Tuesday night outside a mosque in Southport, UK, after a tragic knife attack resulted in the deaths of three girls in the Merseyside town.
During the chaos, a police van was set ablaze, and officers sustained injuries.
A group of individuals, wearing masks and hoodies, clashed with law enforcement while chanting “English till I die” before the situation escalated into violence.
Authorities suspect that these individuals may be connected to the far-right English Defence League.
This unrest followed Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s plea to social media users to refrain from spreading “false information” about Monday’s attack and the suspect online.
A 17-year-old male, reportedly involved in the stabbings at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event, has been apprehended. The police have not disclosed his identity due to his age but have confirmed that he was born in the UK.
It should be noted that there is no indication that he is of the Muslim faith.
Merseyside Police reported that a large group of individuals began throwing objects at the mosque on St Luke’s Road around 7.45 pm that evening.
Subsequently, officers had to don helmets and riot gear as projectiles such as bottles and wheelie bins were hurled at them.
One police officer sustained a broken nose, while others suffered minor injuries, and a police van was set on fire.
Additional patrols, including a dog unit, were dispatched to the scene to maintain order.
Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss mentioned that many of the perpetrators behind the violence did not reside in Merseyside nor did they have any regard for the county’s inhabitants, as reported by Sky News.
He emphasized, “Rumors and speculation surrounding the 17-year-old male in custody are being used to incite violence and disorder in our streets.
“We have confirmed that the individual arrested is a UK-born citizen, and at this time, such speculations serve no purpose.
“Our officers should not be subjected to such confrontations, but we are committed to ensuring the safety of the local community, which has already suffered enough, and will apprehend those engaging in unlawful acts.”
As night fell, the situation outside the mosque seemed to have calmed down, with the crowd thinning out.
Ms. Cooper condemned the attacks by stating that it was “appalling” that Southport police officers were being assaulted by “street thugs who show no respect for a grieving community,” adding, “It is utterly disgraceful.”
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy expressed her pride in the officers and staff for their unwavering dedication in saving lives, investigating the tragic incident that occurred the previous day, collaborating with partners to reassure communities, and now having to confront this violence from troublemakers.
Law enforcement responded to an incident on Hart Street in Southport just before noon on Monday, where 11 children and two adults had been stabbed.
Tragically, three of the children, identified as six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, later succumbed to their injuries.