BTN News: Police started a big operation, sending out thousands of officers across the country. Many of these officers had riot gear. They also freed up prison cells and used surveillance technology, including facial recognition.
On Saturday, Merseyside police said that several officers were injured in “serious disorder” in central Liverpool. This is about 32 kilometers (20 miles) from Southport, where the stabbing took place. Southport is a coastal town in northwest England.
In posts on the social media platform X, the police force covering Liverpool and Southport said, “There is no place for this bad behavior. It disrupts the lives of people living in or visiting the city to enjoy its amenities.”
In another part of the country, Humberside police said that three officers were hurt and four people were arrested after problems in Hull. Hull is a city in northeastern England. Earlier, windows were broken at a Hull hotel used to house immigrants.
In other places, bricks were thrown at police officers in Stoke-on-Trent, which is in central England. Fights also happened in Belfast, Manchester, and Nottingham.
There were no reports of far-right marches in London. Meanwhile, thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched peacefully in the city. They were protesting against the Israeli military operation in Gaza.
The new British Labour Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, had a crisis meeting with ministers on Saturday. He said that the police had the “full support” of the government to act against “extremists” who attack officers and try to “sow hatred,” according to his office at 10 Downing Street.
The recent clashes followed a day after protesters in Sunderland, northeastern England, threw beer barrels and stones at police officers. A vehicle and a building next to a police station were set on fire. Twelve people were arrested.
The violence started a few days ago. This was in protest against the stabbing that happened on Monday in Southport. A 17-year-old was arrested.
False rumors spread online about the identity of the young suspect, who is a Muslim immigrant. This made far-right supporters very angry. In the UK, it is uncommon to name suspects under 18. But Judge Andrew Menary ordered that Axel Rudakubana, born in Wales to Rwandan parents, be named. This was partly to stop the spread of false information.
At a press conference on Saturday, Northumbria Police Chief Superintendent Mark Hall talked about the violent protests in Sunderland. He said they were “unforgivable” and mentioned that four officers were hurt, three because of the disorder. He also said that a mounted officer was badly injured in an accident and is getting treatment in a hospital.
“Throughout the night, our officers faced severe and ongoing violence,” he said. “Make no mistake, if you were involved last night, expect to face the full force of the law.”
The police said that many protests are being organized online by far-right groups. They are using phrases like “enough is enough,” “save our children,” and “stop the boats” to gain support. Counter-protests are also planned. Stand Up To Racism is organizing these protests to stand against Islamophobia and the far-right.
