Metropolitan Police officers were “attacked and assaulted” with at least two injured after a “violent protest” in London in the wake of the Southport stabbings, the force has said.
A total of 111 people have been arrested as “many of those attending had no intention of acting peacefully or cooperating with officers”, the Met said on Thursday.
Bottles, flares, and other objects were reportedly thrown at officers. One officer was “punched in the chest and another kicked multiple times”, both receiving injuries.
Arrests were made for offences including violent disorder, assaults on police officers, possession of knives and offensive weapons and breach of protest conditions.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist:“Last night our officers faced unacceptable scenes of disorder and violence, as others across the country have done in recent days. They acted with great courage and the highest levels of professionalism in the face of hateful behaviour.
“All our thoughts should be with the victims and families of those impacted by the most dreadful attack in Southport. It is shameful that some have sought to exploit this tragedy as justification for their own violence and criminality.
“There is absolutely no place for this on our streets. We will ensure that anyone involved in any violent disorder and criminal behaviour will be stopped, arrested and will face justice.”
A further 60 people were arrested during the protest for failing to comply with conditions on the protest under Section 14 Public Order Act 1986. They were not taken in to custody but remain under investigation.
Further protests took place across the country, including in Hartlepool, Manchester, and Aldershot.
The Prime Minister will host senior police leaders in Downing Street on Thursday afternoon in the wake of violent unrest in multiple parts of the country.
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He is expected to remind the police that people “exploit” the right to protest in order to “sow hatred” or commit “violent acts” should be met with “the full force of the law”.
Sir Keir Starmer will also commit to working in partnership with police forces across the UK to stop “mindless violence” following scenes of unrest in Southport, London, Hartlepool and elsewhere.
In London, a large protest was staged under the title ofEnough is Enough, and demonstrators clashed with officers in Whitehall on Wednesday.
A protester is detained by police
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Demonstrators were seen launching beer cans and glass bottles at a line of police in riot gear in front of Downing Street and throwing flares onto the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square.
The angry scenes also included loud chants of “we want our country back” and “Oh Tommy Robinson”, referring to the right-wing activist.
Police in Hartlepool were attacked with missiles, glass bottles and eggs, Cleveland Police said.
A police car was alsoset alight during the violence after a large group of people gathered in the Murray Street area of Hartlepool on Wednesday evening.
In Manchester,demonstrators turned out in large numbers outside the Holiday Inn hotel on Oldham Road at around 6pm, the Manchester Evening News reported.
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Around 40 people, which the paper reports included children and men wearing balaclavas, gathered outside the Oldham Road premises in what the paper said “appeared to be a stand against asylum seekers currently being housed in the hotel”.
In Aldershot, local MP Alex Baker took to social media to rebuke violence in her community, stating that there is “no justification for disorderly behaviour and the scenes do not represent Aldershot and Farnborough”.
“I have been liaising with Hampshire Police this evening regarding a significant incident at Potter’s International Hotel in Aldershot, where a peaceful protest descended into intimidating behaviour,” she said in a statement shared on X.
A man points at a police officer
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“I have visited the scene myself this evening and have been in touch with the Chief Inspector. This incident was exacerbated by people from outside our community who came here determined to cause unrest. I would like to pay tribute to the brave police officers who worked hard to restore order.
“There is no justification for disorderly behaviour and the scenes do not represent Aldershot and Farnborough. We all support our shared right to peacefully protest, but we will not stand for people coming into our towns determined to stir up trouble and divide our community.”
Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
Cleveland Police also said it had made eight arrests for various offences including public order and affray after violence broke out in Hartlepool on Wednesday, with more arrests expected.
Road closures have been lifted, but a visible police presence remains in the area, the force said.
Chief Superintendent David Sutherland said: “At this stage we believe the protest is in connection with the incident in Southport earlier this week.
“Our officers are facing missiles, glass bottles and eggs being thrown at them and have made arrests as they remain in the area to protect the safety of those living in the community.”
In Manchester, local councillor John Flanagan took to social media to respond to the violence, labelling those involved in the “sickening” incident as “mindless idiots”.
“I’d like to condemn these mindless thugs, attacking innocent men who are asylum seekers. They have been there for months and we have not had any issues or problems. They have been in a place of safety,” the councillor for Newton Heath said.
“It’s sickening to think they are being targeted because of their race or their religion, and I hope this isn’t tied with the disgraceful scenes in Southport where a mosque was attacked last night.
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“These idiots are attacking innocent people. My initial reaction is to contact GMP and support them. The whole of the city and reasonable thinking people will be horrified and sickened by these actions. Idiots is too soft of a word – I hope the police use the full force of the law.
“We cannot allow our country and our city to descend into anarchy, which seems to be being driven by madness on social media.”
It comes after violence erupted in Southport on Tuesday following a vigil for three girls killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club.
Police officers in Southport suffered serious injuries when bricks, stones and bottles were thrown and cars were set alight during violent protests.
The disorder near the town’s mosque came after false rumours were circulated online about the suspect.
In an effort to avoid a second night of rioting, Merseyside Police were given extra powers, under S60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, on Wednesday to stop and search people suspected of carrying weapons.
Community Inspector Doug Chadwick said the public was “shocked and disappointed” by the “disgraceful” scenes of rioting and called on the public to come forward with information about what they had seen.
Five people have been arrested over the unrest so far, which saw 53 officers and three police dogs injured.
The unrest comes as a 17-year-old boy has been charged with the murders of the three girls.
Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were fatally stabbed on Monday when a knifeman entered the dance class on Hart Street in Southport, Merseyside.
Eight other children suffered knife wounds – with five of them in critical condition – while two adults were also critically hurt.
The 17-year-old has been remanded in custody to appear on Thursday, August 1, at Liverpool Magistrates Court, Derby Square.
