Southport, July 31, 2024, The Europe Today: Dozens of protesters clashed with police on Tuesday in the northern English town of Southport, following a fatal stabbing attack that claimed the lives of three children a day earlier.
Crowds hurled bottles and stones at officers and set a police van on fire outside a mosque, resulting in injuries to at least 22 officers, according to police reports.
A 17-year-old suspect from Wales, identified only as a teenager, was arrested in connection with the attack. However, false information circulating online suggested that the attacker was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat, fueling the unrest.
Police attributed the violent clashes to supporters of the far-right group English Defence League. They stated that speculation about the suspect’s identity had incited the violence, with some individuals exploiting the rumors to incite disorder.
British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the rioters’ actions, labeling the scenes as “a total disgrace.”
“The scenes of thuggery bear no relation to the way in which the Southport community has been coming together to support each other and to support grieving families,” Cooper remarked to British broadcasters. She also called on social media companies to “take some responsibility” for the spread of misinformation following the attack.
The violence erupted shortly after a stream of mourners had been paying tribute to the victims in Southport. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the site of the attack, laying flowers and expressing his condolences.
“This tragedy touches a nerve with the whole country,” Starmer said. “I came here to pay my respects to the victims and families who are experiencing unimaginable grief — I can’t imagine, as a dad myself.”
Amid his visit, some bystanders heckled Starmer, with one shouting, “How many more people will die on our streets, Prime Minister?”
The three girls who lost their lives in the attack were aged 6, 7, and 9. Eight other children and two adults were injured during the incident. The victims were attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga event for children at a local community center.
