Police brace for more violent unrest over UK stabbings

Thugs who engage in criminal disorder on the streets will “pay the price”, the British government says, amid warnings that further violence is likely in the coming days.

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.

The string of violent incidents over the past few days began on Tuesday in Southport, after three girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said people involved in the clashes “will pay the price” and that “criminal violence and disorder has no place on Britain’s streets”.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the police have his “full support” to take action against “extremists” attempting to “sow hate” by intimidating communities as he held emergency talks with ministers over the unrest in parts of England.

The far right has drawn condemnation from MPs across the political spectrum after disorder in London, Manchester, Southport and Hartlepool came before Saturday’s violence.

Arrests have been made across the country with police warning of more to come eleven CCTV, social media and body-worn camera footage has been scoured.

There was violence on Saturday in towns and cities such as Hull, Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham, Bristol, Manchester, Blackpool and Belfast which saw several police officers injured.

It followed a riot in Sunderland on Friday evening.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said anyone who attacks police “should be ashamed.”

She wrote on X: “I cannot thank our local police enough for everything they’re doing to keep people safe.

They were among the first on the scene when the horrendous incident unfolded in Southport.

They run into danger to keep us safe, and those who attack them should be ashamed.”

Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said “violence is not acceptable”.

“Northern Ireland must always be a place that protects the right to protest, the right to have a view and to express it”, she posted on X.

“Let’s be VERY clear – violence is not acceptable. It never was and it is not now. No one, NO ONE, has the right to express hate and violence. Stop it now.”

In Liverpool, there were 11 arrests and a number of officers injured, with one being hit on the head by a chair.

Another officer was kicked and knocked off his motorcycle by a demonstrator and others tried to kick riot shields.

The Liverpool Echo reports the Spellow Hub, a library which reopened last year and provides support for people of all abilities to gain education and a path to employment, was also lit on fire.

In a post on X, Liverpool City Council urged people to “stay away from the area” and let police “deal with this ongoing situation in Walton.”

Merseyside Police also said a 58-year-old man has been charged with two offenses following the violent disorder in Southport on Tuesday.

In Hull there were at least four arrests, three police officers injured and shops looted and burned after a mob attacked a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Businesses were targeted in Belfast where police mounted a significant security operation during a lengthy confrontation between anti-Islamic protesters and those taking part in an anti-racist rally at Belfast City Hall during which fireworks and other missiles were launched.

In Bristol, police made 14 arrests because of violent disorder in the city center which Avon and Somerset Police described as “completely unacceptable”.

Further protests are planned for Sunday and more trouble is likely in the coming days, police said.