LONDON:
Far-right rioters in the western English port city of Sunderland clashed with police and set fire to a police station late Friday after a deadly knife attack in Southport earlier this week, according to media reports.
Tensions flared as rocks and beer cans were thrown at police in riot gear outside a mosque in St Mark’s Street.
Violence escalated as mounted police tried to push back the protesters, some of whom wore masks.
In a statement, Northumbria Police called the scenes in Sunderland “totally unacceptable”.
He confirmed that three officers were taken to hospital for treatment of injuries, while one was discharged while the other two remained in hospital for further treatment.
“Eight people have been arrested so far for a range of offences, including violent disorder and burglary,” police added, saying an investigation was underway to identify anyone else responsible.
Protesters chanted “Whose streets, our streets” as unrest spread across the city.
Cars were targeted in Sunderland city centre, with one vehicle overturned and set on fire.
The unrest follows riots in Hartlepool, which police linked to protests surrounding Monday’s attack in Southport, which left three children dead.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the rioters “do not represent Britain” and will pay the price for their violence and abuse.
“The police have the full support of the government to take the strongest possible action and ensure they face the full force of the law,” he wrote in X.
Bridget Phillipson, Labor MP for Houghton and Sunderland South, said they had seen “unforgivable violence and tragedy”, stressing that the criminals involved in “this appalling disorder must be identified, prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent force of law”.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness expressed dismay at the violence.
“Make no mistake, if your response to tragedy is to use it to commit violence, abuse others, attack police and destroy property, you are standing up to nothing but abuse,” he said. “You’re not talking about Sunderland. You’re not talking about this area.”
At the same time, a crowd of 200 anti-racism protesters gathered outside the Abdullah Quilliam Mosque in Liverpool following rumors of a far-right demonstration.
Police urged to protect mosques, homes of asylum seekers
The group chanted: “Say it loud, say it clear: Refugees are welcome here.”
Police across the country have been called in to protect mosques and accommodation for asylum seekers as the nation prepares for at least 19 far-right rallies in the coming days.
The call for increased security by community leaders follows violent protests that spread after the fatal stabbing in cities including London, Hartlepool, Manchester and Aldershot.
The unrest intensified as unfounded online rumors falsely claimed the suspect in the killings was Muslim, leading to attacks on mosques in Southport and Hartlepool on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The suspect was identified Thursday as Axel Rudakubana, 17.
The protests also saw accommodation for asylum seekers in Manchester and Aldershot targeted by protesters brandishing signs reading: “Deport them, don’t support them” and “No flats for illegals”.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called an emergency meeting Thursday with police chiefs and announced the creation of a new national violent riots unit.
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